Which factor is a risk for IRDS?

Which factor is a risk for IRDS?

• A. Diabetic Mother
• B. Adequate Prenatal Steroids
• C. Vaginal Delivery
• D. Full-Term Baby

Answer: (A)

IRDS risk rises when the newborn’s lungs are immature and surfactant is insufficient to keep the alveoli open. A maternal diabetic state increases that risk because high maternal glucose leads to fetal hyperinsulinemia, which suppresses surfactant production and slows lung maturation. The result is reduced lung compliance and a greater tendency for alveolar collapse after birth. Adequate prenatal steroids accelerate fetal lung maturation and boost surfactant production, thereby lowering IRDS risk. Vaginal delivery is not a risk factor and, in general, term infants have mature lungs with adequate surfactant, so they are much less likely to develop IRDS than preterm infants.

IRDS risk rises when the newborn’s lungs are immature and surfactant is insufficient to keep the alveoli open. A maternal diabetic state increases that risk because high maternal glucose leads to fetal hyperinsulinemia, which suppresses surfactant production and slows lung maturation. The result is reduced lung compliance and a greater tendency for alveolar collapse after birth.

Adequate prenatal steroids accelerate fetal lung maturation and boost surfactant production, thereby lowering IRDS risk. Vaginal delivery is not a risk factor and, in general, term infants have mature lungs with adequate surfactant, so they are much less likely to develop IRDS than preterm infants.