respiratory distress syndrome

a condition usually arising in newborn babies, especially those who are PREMATURE , being particularly common in infants born between 32 and 37 weeks' GESTATION . It is characterized by rapid shallow laboured breathing. It arises because the lungs are not properly expanded and lack a substance (known as a surfactant) necessary to bring their expansion about. Adults may suffer from adult respiratory distress syndrome in which there is PULMONARY OEDEMA and a high mortality rate.