A female infant is born prematurely at 28 weeks' gestation. Sholy after bih, she shows signs of dyspnea, cyanosis, and tachypnea. She is placed on a ventilator for assisted breathing, and a diagnosis of neonatal respiratory distress syndrome (hyaline membrane disease) is made. Which of the following is the cause of this syndrome?: (A) Bronchopulmonary dysplasia, (B) Intraventricular brain hemorrhage, (C) Lack of fetal pulmonary maturity and deficiency of surfactant, (D) Necrotizing enterocolitis
Answer is C. -Neonatal respiratory distress syndrome (hyaline membrane disease) is the most common cause of respiratory failure in newborns and results from a deficiency of surfactant and immature development of the lungs Predisposing factors include prematurity, maternal diabetes mellitus, and bih by cesarean section.