# Respiratory distress syndrome in preterm babies

Condition · id `maternal:neonatal-respiratory-distress-syndrome` · Maternal & Newborn Atlas · release `fc5a600ec7387e71` (public)

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Also called: RDS

Browse, life stage: Newborn  
Browse, care area: Preterm and sick newborns  

## In plain language

Breathing trouble in a baby born too early. The lungs make a natural coating, called surfactant, that keeps the tiny air sacs from collapsing. A baby born early may not have enough of it, so the lungs expand poorly and parts of them can collapse. MedlinePlus lists breathing problems among the health problems of premature babies, who need special care in a neonatal intensive care unit.

## Technical summary

Definition as the Curosurf label words it (a manufacturer's label, openFDA copy): a deficiency of pulmonary surfactant in preterm infants results in RDS, with poor lung expansion, inadequate gas exchange and gradual collapse of the lungs (atelectasis). Management rests on the 2025 European consensus guidelines (Neonatology; the PubMed abstract only: the PMC copy is CC BY-NC and was not used, and a later 2026 PubMed item for the same guideline family is a comment with no abstract). The abstract names these elements: collaboration with obstetricians, antenatal steroids, delivery room warmth, spontaneous breathing before cord clamping, non-invasive respiratory support where possible, early surfactant by thin catheter to avoid intubation, lung-protective ventilation for the shortest time possible, and general supportive care. No incidence or survival figure is recorded here.

## Connected pages

- Seen in babies born early (existing page): Preterm birth (`maternal:preterm-birth`)
- Antenatal steroids are among the perinatal measures the European consensus names (existing page): Antenatal corticosteroids (`maternal:antenatal-corticosteroids`)
- Filed under this front: Newborn support: warmth, breathing, feeding (`maternal:front-newborn-support`)
- Recommended for this: Pulmonary surfactants (class) (`maternal:pulmonary-surfactants`) [a claim, not a settled fact; see claim `maternal:claim-european-consensus-2025-surfactant` and its context]
- Treated by: Curosurf (poractant alfa) (`maternal:curosurf`) [a claim, not a settled fact; see claim `maternal:claim-curosurf-label-rds-effect` and its context]
- Related to: Every Newborn Action Plan (ENAP) (`maternal:roadmap-every-newborn-action-plan`)

## Provenance

Content hash: 670a11b31a7d4ae99f466aa06a3538333ded95a8d85db6f619eb614ee5ecbcbb
Last substantive edit: 2026-10-15
Evidence last checked: 2026-10-15