Question
Today, I learned that a friend’s newborn has been diagnosed with neonatal meconium aspiration pneumonia. How severe is this condition?
Answer
Neonatal meconium aspiration pneumonia is a relatively severe form of neonatal pneumonia. It is advisable to actively cooperate with the doctor’s treatment. This condition usually occurs at birth due to asphyxial hypoxia, leading to the fetus breathing in amniotic fluid from the meconium, which can easily cause alveolar rupture. If infection is present, it is important to actively hospitalize for warming and observation, and to use antibiotics for treatment to avoid exacerbation of pulmonary infection. Generally, inflammation can be controlled within about a week, during which it is important to avoid catching a cold and excessive fatigue.