Transient tachypnea of the newborn is a respiratory problem that can be seen in the newborn shortly after delivery. It is caused by retained fetal lung fluid due to impaired clearance mechanisms. It is the most common cause of respiratory distress in term neonates. This condition usually occurs within the first two hours of birth in full term and late term newborn infants. It is a diagnosis of exclusion as it is a benign condition that can have symptoms and signs similar to more serious syndromes, such as respiratory distress or meconium aspiration.
Meconium aspiration presents as a neonate with a prolonged delivery and meconium stained amniotic fluid, with decreased lung volumes and ropy perihilar opacities that represent the aspirated meconium on imaging.
Treatment
Supportive care is the treatment of choice for transient tachypnea of the newborn. This may include withholding oral feeding in periods of extreme tachypnea (over 60 breaths per minute) to prevent aspiration, supplemental oxygen, and CPAP. Evidence from clinical trials investigating the use of postnatal corticosteroids for transient tachypnea of the newborn is inconclusive. Similarly, the clinical trial evidence investigating non-invasive respiratory support (i.e. without endotracheal intubation) compared to supplemental oxygen is uncertain. Epinephrine or salbutamol (albutero<nowiki/>l) have been suggested as a treatment option for transient tachypnea, as a result of evidence that β-agonists increase the speed of alveolar fluid clearance in the lung of newborns. However, the safety and effectiveness of these treatment approaches is not clear.
Prognosis
Transient tachypnea of the newborn is usually self-limiting. However, it may be associated with wheezing syndromes as the child grows older.