respiratory distress syndrome

noun

Definition of respiratory distress syndrome

: a respiratory disorder chiefly of newborn premature infants that is characterized by deficiency of the surfactant coating the inner surface of the lungs resulting in labored breathing, lung collapse, and hypoxemia — compare acute respiratory distress syndrome

Examples of respiratory distress syndrome in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web For children, the costliest outcomes were preterm birth ($13.7 billion), developmental disabilities ($6.5 billion), and respiratory distress syndrome ($2.2 billion), a breathing disorder that affects newborns. — Laurie Zephyrin, STAT, 25 Nov. 2021 Moms who took progesterone were also less likely to have babies with respiratory distress syndrome, one of the most dangerous problems for premature infants. — Mark Johnson, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 23 Aug. 2021 The premature infant was diagnosed with neonatal respiratory distress syndrome and pneumonia and needed to be resuscitated at birth. — NBC News, 27 Mar. 2020 In 1963, John and Jackie Kennedy, having already had a stillborn child, lost their baby Patrick to respiratory distress syndrome 39 hours after a birth that was only two weeks premature. — Edward Lotterman, Twin Cities, 1 Dec. 2019 The 'baby' looked like a newborn look-a-like doll The couple claimed Easton Walt Lang was born July 3 and died hours later of respiratory distress syndrome, according to a criminal complaint. — Amir Vera And Hollie Silverman, CNN, 16 Aug. 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'respiratory distress syndrome.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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Cite this Entry

“Respiratory distress syndrome.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/respiratory%20distress%20syndrome. Accessed 1 Jul. 2022.

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More Definitions for respiratory distress syndrome

respiratory distress syndrome

noun

Medical Definition of respiratory distress syndrome

: a respiratory disorder that occurs in newborn premature infants and is characterized by deficiency of the surfactant coating the inner surface of the lungs, by failure of the lungs to expand and contract properly during breathing with resulting collapse, and by the accumulation of a protein-containing film lining the alveoli and their ducts —abbreviation RDS

— called also hyaline membrane disease

— see acute respiratory distress syndrome