Clinical History.—Soon after delivery, a 2,420-gm girl was found to have a profuse amount of mucus in her mouth and pharynx requiring frequent suctioning.
The mother's health during pregnancy was satisfactory and the only abnormality was an excess of amniotic fluid at delivery.
Physical Examination.—The infant appeared normal except for excessive oral and pharyngeal secretions. Her breathing was not labored and no rales were heard, but loud rhonchi were present throughout both lung fields. The abdomen was moderately distended but the bowel sounds were normal. The remainder of the examination was not remarkable.
Clinical Course.—A plastic feeding tube was passed easily through the nose into the stomach as evidenced by acid material obtained by aspiration. The infant was quiet throughout the procedure. Nothing further was done until 6 hours of age, when it was apparent that the secretions were increasing and respiratory distress had developed. An anteroposterior