Which of the following statements is the simplest way to describe respiratory distress
syndrome to someone who wants to understand it?
A. It’s a cluster of breathing problems that often affects premature infants.
B. It’s a breathing disorder mothers sometimes develop during pregnancy.
C. It’s a breathing disorder that’s likely to affect high-birth-weight infants.
D. It’s a breathing disorder that sometimes occurs in infants during delivery.
The simplest way to describe respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) would be option A: "It’s a cluster of breathing problems that often affects premature infants."
To understand this answer, we need to break down the question and examine the options provided:
Option B states that RDS is a breathing disorder mothers sometimes develop during pregnancy. This is incorrect because RDS is primarily a condition that affects premature infants, not the mother.
Option C suggests that RDS is likely to affect high-birth-weight infants. However, RDS is more commonly associated with premature birth rather than birth weight. Therefore, this option is not the simplest way to describe RDS.
Option D refers to RDS occurring in infants during delivery. While it is true that RDS can occur shortly after birth, it is primarily associated with premature infants rather than the delivery process itself. Hence, this option is not the simplest way to describe RDS.
In summary, option A, "It's a cluster of breathing problems that often affects premature infants," is the simplest statement to describe respiratory distress syndrome.