Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia (BPD): Treatments
, or BPD, is a serious lung condition that affects infants. BPD mostly affects premature infants who need (oxygen given through nasal prongs, a mask, or a breathing tube).
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How Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia (BPD) Is Treated
If your doctor thinks you’re going to give birth too early, he or she may give you of a corticosteroid medicine.
The medicine can speed up surfactant production in your baby. Surfactant is a liquid that coats the inside of the . It helps keep the lungs open so your infant can breathe in air once he or she is born.
Corticosteroids also can help your baby’s , , and develop more quickly while he or she is in the .
Premature babies who have very low birth weights also might be given corticosteroids within the first few days of birth. Doctors sometimes prescribe inhaled shortly after birth for babies who have very low birth weights. This can help improve the babies’ lung function.
These preventive measures may help reduce infants’ risk of (RDS), which can lead to BPD…