Question
Recently, some parents have reported that their child’s teacher mentioned that their newborn baby has been diagnosed with neonatal pneumothorax. They want to know what kind of disease this is?
Answer
Neonatal pneumothorax is a common respiratory system disorder. Mild cases of pneumothorax may not show obvious clinical symptoms and are often discovered during X-ray examinations. Severe cases may present with symptoms such as accelerated breathing, restlessness, difficulty breathing, and cyanosis. Typical signs include the affected side of the chest being larger than the healthy side, intercostal spaces being filled, and a hollow sound on percussion, with the respiratory sounds disappearing or decreasing upon auscultation. When the intrapleural pressure is higher than atmospheric pressure, it is called high-pressure pneumothorax, which may cause the mediastinum to shift towards the healthy side. For neonatal pneumothorax, it is important to seek medical attention promptly and receive appropriate treatment based on the severity of the condition.