Neonatal bronchopulmonary dysplasia is a respiratory disease affecting newborns, but especially premature birth. A premature newborn’s lungs are often underdeveloped, so their body may not receive and exchange the normal oxygen requirements. If this occurs, the newborn will require additional breathing support, either in the form of a mechanical ventilator or long-term oxygen therapy.
Though necessary, unfortunately, long-term breathing support can cause tissue destruction (dysplasia) in underdeveloped lungs because the high amounts of oxygen and pressure may overstretch parts of the lungs where gas exchange takes place (alveoli).
As a result, this often causes inflammation or damage to the inside of the airways, alveoli, and blood vessels around the lungs. The risk of neonatal bronchopulmonary dysplasia varies from case to case. Though this condition is not diagnosed at birth, the more premature the infant is, the greater the risk becomes of them having breathing problems.
Once the infant completes 28 days of requiring of oxygen therapy, they can be diagnosed with neonatal bronchopulmonary dysplasia. It is important to seek and follow advice from a trusted healthcare professional if you know or suspect any respiratory-related issues in a newborn.
There is no cure for neonatal bronchopulmonary dysplasia, but there is treatment available to help manage and prevent further damage to the lungs and airways. There are a variety of medication treatments that may be necessary to help support this respiratory condition. Your healthcare provider may prescribe a combination of medications that will work together to improve and manage symptoms.
A medication called furosemide which is known as a diuretic, may be given by mouth or as an IV medication. A diuretic works to decrease the amount of fluid around the lungs to help make breathing easier and to put less strain on the heart and lungs.
Another medication given to help this condition is albuterol which is known as a bronchodilator. This medication is given as an inhaler and helps to relax the muscles around the airway and widen them to help make breathing easier.
Another common medication used is budesonide. This is a steroid and is given as an inhaler. This steroid medication works to reduce and prevent inflammation in the airways as well as reduce the amount of mucous that is produced.
An antibiotic medication may be necessary during treatment to help against a common respiratory infection such as RSV. Erythromycin is a common antibiotic that a physician may order.
Caffeine citrate is a central nervous stimulant that may be given to prevent apnoea in premature infants with bronchopulmonary dysplasia. Caffeine citrate has been beneficial in helping to wean the infant from a ventilator to breathing on their own.
As with all medications, it is important to follow the instructions of your healthcare provider and report any concerns that you may have.
Neonatal bronchopulmonary dysplasia tends to cause the most trouble early on for premature infants. Some symptoms may follow into early childhood, often ending by the age of 5. However, the lungs may not develop normally, which can lead to other breathing issues later in life.
Children with bronchopulmonary dysplasia may also be at a higher risk for asthma and infections such as a cold or flu virus and take longer to recover. For these reasons, it is important to have regular check-ups and vaccinations with a trusted healthcare provider during the first few years of life.