UC Davis

Transient tachypnea of newborn (TTN) results from failure of the newborn to effectively clear the fetal lung fluid soon after birth. TTN represents the most common etiology of respiratory distress in term gestation newborns and sometimes requires admission to the neonatal intensive care unit. TTN can lead to maternal-infant separation, the need for respiratory support, extended unnecessary exposure to antibiotics and prolonged hospital stays. Recent evidence also suggests that TTN may be associated with wheezing syndromes later in childhood. New imaging modalities such as lung ultrasound can help in the diagnosis of TTN and early management with distending pressure using continuous positive airway pressure may prevent exacerbation of respiratory distress.