Transient tachypnea

Injury	Disease	Nutrition	Poison

Symptoms	Surgery	Test	Special Topic

Overview

Symptoms

Treatment

Prevention

Transient tachypnea - newborn

Alternative Names:

TTN; Wet lungs - newborns; Retained fetal lung fluid; Transient RDS

Treatment:

Your baby will be given oxygen as needed to maintain an adequate blood oxygen level. Pulse oximeter and/or blood gases may be used. Your baby’s oxygen requirement will usually be highest within a few hours after birth and then begin to decrease. Most infants with TTN improve in less than 12-24 hours.

If your baby is breathing very rapidly, feedings may be withheld and IV fluids given for nutrition until your baby improves. Your baby may also receive antibiotics during this time until infection is ruled out. Rarely, babies with TTN may have persistent lung problems for as long as 1 week.

Expectations (prognosis):

TTN usually resolves completely within 24 hours after delivery. Babies who have had TTN usually have no further problems from it and require no special care or follow-up other than their routine pediatrician visits.

Review Date: 11/19/2004
Reviewed By: Bradley A. Yoder, MD, Pediatrix Medical Group, San Antonio, Texas and the Departments of Pediatrics and Pathology, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio.

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