Idiopathic respiratory distress syndrome (hyaline membrane disease).

1. Big picture

Idiopathic respiratory distress syndrome (IRDS), now usually called neonatal respiratory distress syndrome (RDS), is the classic respiratory disease of the preterm infant caused mainly by pulmonary surfactant deficiency and immature lungs.

The examiner wants you to say:

Preterm baby + early respiratory distress after birth + grunting/retractions/cyanosis + low-volume “ground-glass” lungs on chest X-ray = RDS due to surfactant deficiency.

It matters because untreated RDS progresses to atelectasis → hypoxemia → acidosis → pulmonary vasoconstriction → respiratory failure, and treatment must start early with thermal care, oxygen/continuous positive airway pressure, surfactant, and gentle ventilation if needed.

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