BACK TOTOP Browse A-ZSearchBrowse A-ZABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ0-9 E-mail FormEmail ResultsName:Email address:Recipients Name:Recipients address:Message: Print-FriendlyBookmarksbookmarks-menuBronchopulmonary dysplasiaBPD; Chronic lung disease - children; CLD - childrenBronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) is a long-term (chronic) lung condition that affects newborn babies who were either put on a breathing machine (ventilator) after birth or were born very early (prematurely).ChronicChronic refers to something that continues over an extended period of time. A chronic condition is usually long-lasting and does not easily or quick...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Causes BPD occurs in very ill infants who received high levels of oxygen for a long period. BPD can also occur in infants who were on a breathing machine.BPD is more common in infants born early, whose lungs were not fully developed at birth.Risk factors include:Congenital heart disease (problem with the heart's structure and function that is present at birth) Congenital heart diseaseCongenital heart disease (CHD) is a problem with the heart's structure and function that is present at birth.Read Article Now Book Mark Article Prematurity, usually in infants born before 32 weeks gestation Severe respiratory or lung infection Risk of severe BPD has decreased in recent years. Symptoms Symptoms may include any of the following:Bluish skin color (cyanosis) Bluish skinA bluish color to the skin or mucous membrane is usually due to a lack of oxygen in the blood. The medical term is cyanosis.Read Article Now Book Mark Article Cough CoughCoughing is an important way to keep your throat and airways clear. But too much coughing may mean you have a disease or disorder. Some coughs are d...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Rapid breathing Rapid breathingHyperventilation is rapid and deep breathing. It is also called overbreathing, and it may leave you feeling breathless.Read Article Now Book Mark Article Shortness of breath Exams and Tests Tests that may be done to help diagnose BPD include:Arterial blood gas Arterial blood gasBlood gases are a measurement of how much oxygen and carbon dioxide are in your blood. They also determine the acidity (pH) of your blood.Read Article Now Book Mark Article Chest CT scan Chest CT scanA chest CT (computed tomography) scan is an imaging method that uses x-rays to create cross-sectional pictures of the chest and upper abdomen....Read Article Now Book Mark Article Chest x-ray Chest x-rayA chest x-ray is an x-ray of the chest, lungs, heart, large arteries, ribs, and diaphragm.Read Article Now Book Mark Article Pulse oximetry Treatment IN THE HOSPITALInfants who have breathing problems are often put on a ventilator. This is a breathing machine that sends pressure to the baby's lungs to keep them inflated and to deliver more oxygen. As the baby's lungs develop, the pressure and oxygen are slowly reduced. The baby is weaned from the ventilator. The baby may continue to get oxygen by a mask or nasal tube for several weeks or months.Infants with BPD are usually fed by tubes inserted into the stomach (NG tube). These babies need extra calories due to the effort of breathing. To keep their lungs from filling with fluid, their fluid intake may need to be limited. They may also be given medicines (diuretics) that remove water from the body. Other medicines can include corticosteroids, bronchodilators, and surfactant. Surfactant is a slippery, soapy-like substance in the lungs that helps the lungs fill with air and keeps the air sacs from deflating.Tubes inserted into the stomach (NG tub...A feeding tube is a small, soft, plastic tube placed through the nose (NG) or mouth (OG) into the stomach. These tubes are used to provide feedings ...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Parents of these infants need emotional support. This is because BPD takes time to get better and the infant may need to stay in the hospital for a long time.AT HOMEInfants with BPD may need oxygen therapy for weeks to months after leaving the hospital. Follow your health care provider's instructions to ensure your baby gets enough nutrition during recovery. Your baby may need tube feedings or special formulas.It is very important to prevent your baby from getting colds and other infections, such as respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). RSV can cause a severe lung infection, especially in a baby with BPD.Respiratory syncytial virusRespiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a very common virus that leads to mild, cold-like symptoms in adults and older healthy children. It can be more...Read Article Now Book Mark Article A simple way to help prevent RSV infection is to wash your hands often. Follow these measures:Wash your hands with warm water and soap before touching your baby. Tell others to wash their hands, too, before touching your baby. Wash your hands with warm water and soaWashing your hands often during the day is an important way to help reduce the spread of germs and prevent illness. Learn when you should wash your ...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Ask others to avoid contact with your baby if they have a cold or fever, or ask them to wear a mask. Be aware that kissing your baby can spread RSV. Try to keep young children away from your baby. RSV is very common among young children and spreads easily from child-to-child. DO NOT smoke inside your house, car, or anywhere near your baby. Exposure to tobacco smoke increases the risk of RSV illness. Parents of babies with BPD should avoid crowds during outbreaks of RSV. Outbreaks are often reported by local news media.Your baby's provider may prescribe the medicine palivizumab (Synagis) to prevent RSV infection in your baby. Follow instructions on how to give your baby this medicine. Outlook (Prognosis) Babies with BPD get better slowly over time. Oxygen therapy may be needed for many months. Some infants have long-term lung damage and require oxygen and breathing support, such as with a ventilator. Some infants with this condition may not survive. Possible Complications Babies who have had BPD are at greater risk for repeated respiratory infections, such as pneumonia, bronchiolitis, and RSV that require a hospital stay.PneumoniaPneumonia is a breathing (respiratory) condition in which there is an infection of the lung. This article covers community-acquired pneumonia (CAP). ...Read Article Now Book Mark Article BronchiolitisBronchiolitis is swelling and mucus buildup in the smallest air passages in the lungs (bronchioles). It is usually due to a viral infection....Read Article Now Book Mark Article Other possible complications in babies who have had BPD are:Developmental problems Poor growth Pulmonary hypertension (high blood pressure in the arteries of the lungs) Pulmonary hypertensionPulmonary hypertension is high blood pressure in the arteries of the lungs. It makes the right side of the heart work harder than normal.Read Article Now Book Mark Article Long-term lung and breathing problems such as scarring or bronchiectasis In severe cases, lung transplantation might be needed When to Contact a Medical Professional If your baby had BPD, watch for any breathing problems. Contact your child's provider if you see any signs of a respiratory infection.Breathing problemsMost people take breathing for granted. People with certain illnesses may have breathing problems that they deal with on a regular basis. This arti...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Prevention To help prevent BPD:Prevent premature delivery whenever possible. If you are pregnant or thinking about getting pregnant, get prenatal care to help keep you and your baby healthy. Prenatal careTrimester means "3 months. " A normal pregnancy lasts around 10 months and has 3 trimesters. The word prenatal means before birth. The first trimest...Read Article Now Book Mark Article If your baby is on breathing support, ask the provider how soon your baby can be weaned from the ventilator. Your baby may receive surfactant to help keep the lungs open.Open ReferencesReferencesGreenberg JM, Narendran V, Brady JM, Nathan AT, Haberman BB. Neonatal morbidities of prenatal and perinatal origin. In: Lockwood CJ, Copel JA, Dugoff L, et al, eds. Creasy and Resnik's Maternal-Fetal Medicine: Principles and Practice. 9th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2023:chap 73.McGrath-Morrow SA, Collaco JM. Bronchopulmonary dysplasia. In: Kliegman RM, St. Geme JW, Blum NJ, Shah SS, Tasker RC, Wilson KM, eds. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 21st ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 444.Schmitt ER. Pediatric lung disease. In: Walls RM, eds. Rosen's Emergency Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practice. 10th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2023:chap 169.AllVideoImagesTogSelf Care Postural drainage Related Information Chronic(Special Topic)Respiratory(Special Topic)Neonatal respiratory distress syndrome(Condition)Community-acquired pneumonia in adults(Condition)Pneumonia - InDepth(In-Depth) Review Date: 5/3/2023 Reviewed By: Denis Hadjiliadis, MD, MHS, Paul F. Harron, Jr. Professor of Medicine, Pulmonary, Allergy, and Critical Care, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team. The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed medical professional should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. No warranty of any kind, either expressed or implied, is made as to the accuracy, reliability, timeliness, or correctness of any translations made by a third-party service of the information provided herein into any other language. © 1997- A.D.A.M., a business unit of Ebix, Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited. © 1997- All rights reserved. A.D.A.M. content is best viewed in IE9 or above, Firefox and Google Chrome browser.Content is best viewed in IE9 or above, Firefox and Google Chrome browser.
Bronchopulmonary dysplasiaBPD; Chronic lung disease - children; CLD - childrenBronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) is a long-term (chronic) lung condition that affects newborn babies who were either put on a breathing machine (ventilator) after birth or were born very early (prematurely).ChronicChronic refers to something that continues over an extended period of time. A chronic condition is usually long-lasting and does not easily or quick...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Causes BPD occurs in very ill infants who received high levels of oxygen for a long period. BPD can also occur in infants who were on a breathing machine.BPD is more common in infants born early, whose lungs were not fully developed at birth.Risk factors include:Congenital heart disease (problem with the heart's structure and function that is present at birth) Congenital heart diseaseCongenital heart disease (CHD) is a problem with the heart's structure and function that is present at birth.Read Article Now Book Mark Article Prematurity, usually in infants born before 32 weeks gestation Severe respiratory or lung infection Risk of severe BPD has decreased in recent years. Symptoms Symptoms may include any of the following:Bluish skin color (cyanosis) Bluish skinA bluish color to the skin or mucous membrane is usually due to a lack of oxygen in the blood. The medical term is cyanosis.Read Article Now Book Mark Article Cough CoughCoughing is an important way to keep your throat and airways clear. But too much coughing may mean you have a disease or disorder. Some coughs are d...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Rapid breathing Rapid breathingHyperventilation is rapid and deep breathing. It is also called overbreathing, and it may leave you feeling breathless.Read Article Now Book Mark Article Shortness of breath Exams and Tests Tests that may be done to help diagnose BPD include:Arterial blood gas Arterial blood gasBlood gases are a measurement of how much oxygen and carbon dioxide are in your blood. They also determine the acidity (pH) of your blood.Read Article Now Book Mark Article Chest CT scan Chest CT scanA chest CT (computed tomography) scan is an imaging method that uses x-rays to create cross-sectional pictures of the chest and upper abdomen....Read Article Now Book Mark Article Chest x-ray Chest x-rayA chest x-ray is an x-ray of the chest, lungs, heart, large arteries, ribs, and diaphragm.Read Article Now Book Mark Article Pulse oximetry Treatment IN THE HOSPITALInfants who have breathing problems are often put on a ventilator. This is a breathing machine that sends pressure to the baby's lungs to keep them inflated and to deliver more oxygen. As the baby's lungs develop, the pressure and oxygen are slowly reduced. The baby is weaned from the ventilator. The baby may continue to get oxygen by a mask or nasal tube for several weeks or months.Infants with BPD are usually fed by tubes inserted into the stomach (NG tube). These babies need extra calories due to the effort of breathing. To keep their lungs from filling with fluid, their fluid intake may need to be limited. They may also be given medicines (diuretics) that remove water from the body. Other medicines can include corticosteroids, bronchodilators, and surfactant. Surfactant is a slippery, soapy-like substance in the lungs that helps the lungs fill with air and keeps the air sacs from deflating.Tubes inserted into the stomach (NG tub...A feeding tube is a small, soft, plastic tube placed through the nose (NG) or mouth (OG) into the stomach. These tubes are used to provide feedings ...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Parents of these infants need emotional support. This is because BPD takes time to get better and the infant may need to stay in the hospital for a long time.AT HOMEInfants with BPD may need oxygen therapy for weeks to months after leaving the hospital. Follow your health care provider's instructions to ensure your baby gets enough nutrition during recovery. Your baby may need tube feedings or special formulas.It is very important to prevent your baby from getting colds and other infections, such as respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). RSV can cause a severe lung infection, especially in a baby with BPD.Respiratory syncytial virusRespiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a very common virus that leads to mild, cold-like symptoms in adults and older healthy children. It can be more...Read Article Now Book Mark Article A simple way to help prevent RSV infection is to wash your hands often. Follow these measures:Wash your hands with warm water and soap before touching your baby. Tell others to wash their hands, too, before touching your baby. Wash your hands with warm water and soaWashing your hands often during the day is an important way to help reduce the spread of germs and prevent illness. Learn when you should wash your ...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Ask others to avoid contact with your baby if they have a cold or fever, or ask them to wear a mask. Be aware that kissing your baby can spread RSV. Try to keep young children away from your baby. RSV is very common among young children and spreads easily from child-to-child. DO NOT smoke inside your house, car, or anywhere near your baby. Exposure to tobacco smoke increases the risk of RSV illness. Parents of babies with BPD should avoid crowds during outbreaks of RSV. Outbreaks are often reported by local news media.Your baby's provider may prescribe the medicine palivizumab (Synagis) to prevent RSV infection in your baby. Follow instructions on how to give your baby this medicine. Outlook (Prognosis) Babies with BPD get better slowly over time. Oxygen therapy may be needed for many months. Some infants have long-term lung damage and require oxygen and breathing support, such as with a ventilator. Some infants with this condition may not survive. Possible Complications Babies who have had BPD are at greater risk for repeated respiratory infections, such as pneumonia, bronchiolitis, and RSV that require a hospital stay.PneumoniaPneumonia is a breathing (respiratory) condition in which there is an infection of the lung. This article covers community-acquired pneumonia (CAP). ...Read Article Now Book Mark Article BronchiolitisBronchiolitis is swelling and mucus buildup in the smallest air passages in the lungs (bronchioles). It is usually due to a viral infection....Read Article Now Book Mark Article Other possible complications in babies who have had BPD are:Developmental problems Poor growth Pulmonary hypertension (high blood pressure in the arteries of the lungs) Pulmonary hypertensionPulmonary hypertension is high blood pressure in the arteries of the lungs. It makes the right side of the heart work harder than normal.Read Article Now Book Mark Article Long-term lung and breathing problems such as scarring or bronchiectasis In severe cases, lung transplantation might be needed When to Contact a Medical Professional If your baby had BPD, watch for any breathing problems. Contact your child's provider if you see any signs of a respiratory infection.Breathing problemsMost people take breathing for granted. People with certain illnesses may have breathing problems that they deal with on a regular basis. This arti...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Prevention To help prevent BPD:Prevent premature delivery whenever possible. If you are pregnant or thinking about getting pregnant, get prenatal care to help keep you and your baby healthy. Prenatal careTrimester means "3 months. " A normal pregnancy lasts around 10 months and has 3 trimesters. The word prenatal means before birth. The first trimest...Read Article Now Book Mark Article If your baby is on breathing support, ask the provider how soon your baby can be weaned from the ventilator. Your baby may receive surfactant to help keep the lungs open.Open ReferencesReferencesGreenberg JM, Narendran V, Brady JM, Nathan AT, Haberman BB. Neonatal morbidities of prenatal and perinatal origin. In: Lockwood CJ, Copel JA, Dugoff L, et al, eds. Creasy and Resnik's Maternal-Fetal Medicine: Principles and Practice. 9th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2023:chap 73.McGrath-Morrow SA, Collaco JM. Bronchopulmonary dysplasia. In: Kliegman RM, St. Geme JW, Blum NJ, Shah SS, Tasker RC, Wilson KM, eds. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 21st ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 444.Schmitt ER. Pediatric lung disease. In: Walls RM, eds. Rosen's Emergency Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practice. 10th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2023:chap 169.