What is another word for respiratory distress syndrome?
Pronunciation: [ɹɪspˈɪɹətəɹˌɪ dɪstɹˈɛs sˈɪndɹə͡ʊm] (IPA) 
Respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) is a condition in which a newborn baby has difficulty breathing. There are several synonyms that describe the same condition. These include neonatal respiratory distress syndrome (NRDS), hyaline membrane disease (HMD), infant respiratory distress syndrome (IRDS), and surfactant deficiency disorder. NRDS refers to the same condition as RDS, but emphasizes that it occurs in newborns. HMD describes the appearance of the lungs under a microscope, where they look like a glassy membrane. IRDS replaces the term "infant" for "neonatal" but still refers to the same condition. Surfactant deficiency disorder is used to describe RDS caused by a lack of surfactant, a substance that helps keep the lungs inflated.
