Cystic fibrosis occurs when the mucus secreted in the body is very thick and sticky. There is also a build-up of mucus in the body due to the body’s inability to clear the mucus in the body. This will lead to mucus blocking the alveoli in the lungs. This can cause recurrent bacterial infections. Dornase alpha assist in the treatment of Cystic fibrosis due to its mucolytic effects (it hydrolyze the extra-cellular DNA of the neutrophils in the bronchial mucus)  on the mucus thereby, improving the fluidity of the mucus making it easier to be excreted from the body.

Neonatal respiratory distress syndrome is also called hyaline membrane disease and it only occurs in in premature babies. It is when the lung falls flat because the surfactants that cover the airways which are essential for gas exchange are not formed yet because it is only formed shortly before birth. Treatment includes oxygen therapy. Ventilation is used to keep a positive pressure in the lungs. Intensive monitoring of respiratory status is used in order to prevent too high oxygen levels which can lead to retinal damage and blindness. Before labour corticosteroids are given to the mother. This will initiate the baby’s surfactant production. Exogenous surfactants are administered to the baby through a catheter into the lungs. This augment lung surfactant.

Oxygen therapy is induced in order to assure that the baby oxygen levels is in its requires index. Oxygen is also used to maintain a positive ventilation pressure, thereby ensuring that the alveoli in the lungs do not colapse. Too high oxygen levels can lead to retinal damage and blindness.

Neonatal apnoea occurs when continuous breathing by a baby is not stimulated because the respiratory centre in the Medulla is not yet fully developed. Methylxanthines are lipophilic and can therefore cross the blood brain barrier and stimulate the CNS. Methylxanthines used for this treatment includes caffeine and theophylline.