Transient tachypnea of the newborn is defined as what type of lung disease?

• A. Obstructive
• B. Restrictive
• C. Cystic
• D. Vascular

Answer: (A)

Transient tachypnea of the newborn is best understood as an obstructive process. The key feature is delayed clearance of fetal lung fluid after birth, which increases airway resistance and promotes air trapping. This air trapping leads to rapid breathing (tachypnea) and often mild respiratory distress, with chest imaging typically showing hyperinflation that improves as the fluid is absorbed. This pattern fits an obstructive type of lung physiology rather than a restrictive, cystic, or vascular one. Restrictive conditions would more commonly reduce lung volumes and stiffen the lungs, cystic abnormalities describe cyst formation or mucus-filled airways, and vascular conditions involve the pulmonary vasculature rather than primary airway obstruction.