Medical KSV Practice Exam 2026 – All-in-One Guide to Master Your Certification!

Surfactant deficiency in newborns leads to respiratory distress syndrome, causing rapid breathing and widespread, hazy opacities on chest X-ray. When surfactant is low, the lungs become stiff and collapse easily (atelectasis), so gas exchange is impaired and breathing rate increases to try to meet oxygen needs. The imaging appearance is often described as a diffuse ground-glass or reticulogranular pattern with air bronchograms, reflecting widespread alveolar collapse and the formation of hyaline membranes from injury to the alveolar-capillary interface. This condition typically affects preterm infants who haven’t produced enough surfactant yet, which is why it’s also called neonatal hyaline membrane disease.

Other neonatal lung problems don’t fit this exact pattern. Meconium aspiration can produce patchy infiltrates and sometimes hyperinflation, especially if it’s postterm or associated with fetal distress. Transient tachypnea of the newborn usually shows prominent perihilar markings with hyperinflation and resolves quickly after birth. Pneumonia can cause diffuse or focal infiltrates but is not driven by surfactant deficiency.

In short, the combination of tachypnea and diffuse hazy radiographs in a preterm infant best fits surfactant deficiency causing neonatal respiratory distress syndrome. Treatment involves supportive care with respiratory support and, if needed, exogenous surfactant.