Finding Information Online About Respiratory Distress Syndrome

Respiratory Distress Syndrome or RDS is a condition that affects mostly premature infants. It is a lung disorder where the lung sacs collapse and cause difficulty in breathing. RDS symptoms normally appear soon after birth for a premature infant and can get progressively worse. RDS can cause a baby's skin to turn blue and breathing will become rapid and labored.  Additionally, the lower ribs and breast bone will look as though they are being drawn in with each breath.  The baby may also grunt from the effort and become exhausted just from trying to breath.  These babies will likely spend some time int he neonatal intensive care unit at the hospital, where they will receive care and oxygen as needed.

The internet is a good resource for finding out about Respiratory Distress Syndrome, including risk factors, symptoms and complications. The following are some good online resources for those wanting to find out more about RDS:

A good place to start is the Medline Plus medical encyclopedia produced online by the U.S. National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health. The page available at http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/001563.htm provides an overview of Respiratory Distress Syndrome including causes, symptoms, and treatment options. This site also has links to other resources and a color image of what happens to the lungs with RDS.

The American Lung Association is another great resource. This organization has a fact sheet available online at http://www.lungusa.org/site/pp.asp?c=dvLUK9O0E&b=35693 titled “Respiratory Distress Syndrome of the Newborn Fact Sheet.” This page provides statistics, as well as symptoms, prevention and treatment options.

The Penn State Children’s Hospital also offers a good fact sheet online. The information found at http://www.hmc.psu.edu
/childrens/healthinfo/r/respiratorydistress.htm is organized in an accessible question and answer style and provides information on the causes, symptoms and treatment of RDS.