Objectives: To describe the clinical and paraclinical characteristics of neonatal respiratory
distress (NRD).
Method: A cross-sectional descriptive study was carried out on 96 newborns with respiratory
distress at the Thai Nguyen National Hospital from August to October 2020.
Results: Neonatal respiratory distress was common in males, ≤1 day old (76%); <37 weeks
(61.5%); birthweight < 2500g (57.3%). The common signs: cyanosis (90.6%); chest wall
indrawing (87.5%); tachypnea (86.5%); nasal flaring (46.9%); coagulation disorder (92.7%),
hypoalbuminemia (72.9%) and hypoglycemia (37.5%). NRF in the group of preterm infants
was more common. The time of onset of NRD, purple signs, fluttering of the nostrils, SpO2 <
90%, hypothermia, hypoalbuminemia, decreased blood pH in the group of preterm newborns
were higher than those in full-term ones.
Conclusion: Neonatal respiratory distress usually occurs in preterm newborns, low weight,
on the first day after birth.