transient tachypnea of the newborn

tachypnea

 [tak″ip-ne´ah]

very rapid respirations, seen especially in high fever when the body attempts to rid itself of excess heat. The rate of respiration increases at a ratio of about eight breaths per minute for every degree Celsius above normal. Other causes include pneumonia, compensatory respiratory alkalosis as the body tries to “blow off” excess carbon dioxide, respiratory insufficiency, lesions in the respiratory control center of the brain, and salicylate poisoning. See also hyperpnea and hyperventilation.

transient tachypnea of the newborn a self-limited elevation of the respiratory rate in newborns due to delayed clearing of fetal lung water.

transient tachypnea of the newborn

a syndrome of generally mild tachypnea in otherwise healthy newborns, lasting usually only about 3 days.

Synonym(s): respiratory distress syndrome type II

tran·si·ent ta·chyp·ne·a of the new·born

(TTN) (tran'sē-ĕnt tă-kip'nē-ă nū'bōrn)

Respiratory distress presenting in the first few hours of life, generally resolving in 12-24 hours.

transient tachypnea of the newborn

Abbreviation: TTN

A self-limited condition often affecting newborns who have experienced intrauterine hypoxia resulting from aspiration of amniotic fluid, delayed clearance of fetal lung fluid, or both. Signs of respiratory distress commonly appear within 6 hr after birth, improve within 24 to 48 hr, and resolve within 72 hours of birth, without respiratory assistance.

See also: tachypnea