Usually a chemical pneumonia due to swallowing amniotic fluid mixed with meconium. Complication leads to air-block syndrome with pneumothorax or pulmonary hemorrhage. Differential - transient tachypnea, neonatal infection, lymphangiectasia. Usually responds to supportive therapy. Respiratory distress - hyaline membrane disease Condition that affects premature infants related to a deficiency of surface active agent surfactant.
Infants are symptomatic immediately or soon after birth.
Air bronchogram seen at lung bases. Pulmonary interstitial emphysema may develop with therapy. Virus can be principle cause although other organism such as strep, staph or E Coli. Common viral pneumonias include H. flu and herpes. May lead to diffuse involvement of entire lungs.