Patient's question:
My friend's friend's baby had difficulty breathing right after birth. The baby was breathing very rapidly and seemed like they couldn't catch their breath. Since the baby is a premature infant, they had an electrocardiogram and color Doppler ultrasound done at the hospital a few days ago. The doctor said the baby has neonatal pulmonary hypertension. Can this condition be treated?Doctor's answer:
Common in congenital heart disease, persistent pulmonary hypertension in newborns appears to be a high-risk factor, as are hypoxic diseases such as bronchial asthma, infantile pneumonia, urethral malformation, and unexplained pulmonary hypertension. Some children may experience recurrent fainting, while others may have symptoms like chest tightness, bloody stools, and abdominal pain. Echocardiography can be performed to measure pulmonary artery pressure, and active treatment should be initiated.