• Briefly explain what cystic fibrosis is and how dornase alfa acts to solve the problem.

It is a genetic metabolic disease that results in reduced secretion in various organs, the mucus is thick and sticky and this leads to recurrent bacterial infections. Dornase alpha helps to hydrolyse proteins in bronchial mucus to improve fluidity, antibiotics helps with the recurrent bacterial infections and sometimes the use of corticosteroids as well as bronchodilators.

• Briefly explain what neonatal respiratory distress syndrome is, what the general treatment strategies involve and how cortisone and exogenous surfactants solve the problem.

Neonatal respiratory distress syndrome is when the surfactant that covers the airways for gaseous exchange only develops shortly before birth. Exogeneous surfactants such as beractant and poractant alpha as well as administering the corticosteroid before labour to a mother will help in the production of the surfactant.

• What is the role of oxygen therapy in neonatal respiratory distress syndrome?  What do the dangers of oxygen toxicity involve?

Oxygen therapy helps so that there babies does not experience hypoxia as well as the level of oxygen needed in the body is met. Oxygen toxicity can cause retinal damage and blindness

• Briefly explain what neonatal apnoea is and how the methylxanthines solve the problem.  Which methylxanthine is used?

neonatal apnoea is a condition in which the respiratory centre in the brain has not yet fully developed to stimulate continuous breathing. The methylxanthine used are caffeine and theophylline which causes bronchodilation so that more oxygen can reach the lungs