Etiological causes of respiratory distress syndrome in full term neonates presenting within 24 hours of life

Aim: to record the frequency of different etiological causes of respiratory distress syndrome in full term neonates presenting within 24 hours of life. methodology: a total of 210 neonates born at term of either gender presenting with rds were include in this trial whereas those neonates with gross congenital malformations like skeletal,visceral,dysmorphism,cleft palate and lip,presenting after 24 hours of birth and having jaundice (yellow skin,eyes and palm) caused by septicemia or bacterial pneumonia were excluded from the study. antenatal record of mother was assessed for causes of rds like maternal or fetal infection during pregnancy and maternal diabetes. mode of delivery was noted and if delivery was conducted through cesarean section then it was noted. neonates were assessed for presence of birth asphyxia and meconium aspiration syndrome. results: in our study,mean maternal age was calculated as 27.32+4.09 years,79(37.62%) neonates were male and 131(62.38%) were females. etiological causes of respiratory distress syndrome in full term neonates were recorded as 113(53.81%) for infection,67(31.90%) for caesarean delivery,27(12.86%) for birth asphyxia and 10(4.76%) had mas. conclusion: we concluded that infection was the most prevalent causative etiological factor followed by cesarean delivery and birth asphyxia in full term neonates presenting within 24 hours of life with respiratory distress syndrome.