Most babies who have
chronic lung disease survive, and many outgrow their
lung problems. However, complications sometimes develop. Complications that
affect the heart and lungs are the most dangerous.
Infants who have chronic lung disease may develop complications
shortly after the disease appears, including:
- Respiratory infections.
Pneumonia (viral or bacterial) is the most common.
Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is often the cause
of these infections.
- Airway obstruction. Some infants who have
chronic lung disease experience some obstruction of their airway that is caused
by narrowing of and damage to the airway (laryngotracheal stenosis and
tracheomalacia), conditions that are associated with
prolonged or more frequent use of breathing tubes.
- Infection in
the bloodstream (sepsis).
- Increased blood pressure in the
lungs (pulmonary hypertension) leading to enlargement of the right side of the
heart and possible
heart failure, which occurs in infants who are
severely affected.
- Respiratory distress that requires a
ventilator to help with breathing throughout early
childhood.
Complications that can occur later include:
- High blood pressure. Doctors usually can treat
this condition with medicine.
- Growth problems. Compared with other
children of the same age, children who have chronic lung disease may be
shorter, weigh less, have a smaller head, have hearing or vision problems, and
have learning problems.
-
Cerebral palsy,
which is a group of motor problems and physical disorders that result from a
brain injury or abnormal brain development.
