Which of the following is a risk factor for transient tachypnea?

• A. Low birth weight
• B. High birth weight
• C. Brief labor
• D. Maternal age

Answer: (A)

Transient tachypnea of the newborn (TTN) is commonly associated with certain risk factors that can influence the respiratory adaptation of an infant born close to term or preterm. Low birth weight is indeed a risk factor for transient tachypnea because it often correlates with prematurity. Infants who are born at lower weights may have immature lungs that are less capable of clearing fluid effectively, leading to respiratory distress after birth.

In cases of low birth weight, particularly when associated with premature birth, the surfactant levels in the lungs may be insufficient, and the clearance of fluid from the lungs may be delayed. This can result in the characteristic increased respiratory rate seen in TTN.

Other factors like high birth weight, brief labor, and maternal age do not have the same pronounced connection with the development of TTN. High birth weight may sometimes be associated with other complications but is not a recognized risk factor for TTN. Brief labor might suggest a rapidly occurring delivery, which could lead to other issues, but it's not a direct risk factor for transient tachypnea. Maternal age may have its own implications for birth outcomes, but it does not specifically link to transient tachypnea in the same way that low birth weight does.