Transient tachypnea of the newborn
Disease Information
In-Depth
What causes transient tachypnea?
It is thought that slow absorption of the fluid in the fetal lungs causes TTN. This fluid makes taking in oxygen harder and your baby breathes faster to compensate.
Who is affected by transient tachypnea?
About 1 to 2 percent of all newborns develop TTN. Although premature babies can have TTN, most babies with this problem are full-term. The condition may be more likely to develop in babies delivered by cesarean section because the fluid in the lungs doesn't get squeezed out as in a vaginal birth.
What are the symptoms of transient tachypnea of the newborn?
The following are the most common symptoms of transient tachypnea of the newborn. However, each baby may experience symptoms differently. Symptoms may include:
- rapid breathing rate (more than 60 breaths/minute)
- grunting sounds with breathing
- flaring of the nostrils
- retractions (pulling in at the ribs with breathing)
