RESUMO
To determine the incidence of respiratory distress syndrome [RDS] in hospital born babies. Design: A prospective study. Place and Duration of Study: The study was conducted in the neonatal intensive care unit [NICU] at the Pediatric department, in collaboration with the Obstetrics and Gynecology Department, Military Hospital, Rawalpindi, over a period of one year from January to December 2000. Subjects and All live born infants delivered at the hospital and who fulfilled the diagnostic criteria of respiratory distress syndrome [RDS] were included in the study. Ninety-four neonates developed RDS. Out of these, 88 [93.61%] were preterm and 06 [6.38%] were term infants. There was a male preponderance [65.95%]. RDS was documented in 1.72% of total live births, 37.28% of preterm and 0.11% of term neonates born at the hospital. The incidence of RDS was 100% at 26 or less weeks of gestation, 57.14% at 32 weeks, and 3.70% at 36 weeks. The mortality with RDS was 41 [43.61%]. RDS is the commonest cause of respiratory distress in the newborn, particularly, in preterm infants. It carries a high mortality rate and the incidence is more than that documented in the Western world