respiratory distress syndrome

respiratory distress syndrome
    n 1: an acute lung disease of the newborn (especially the
         premature newborn); lungs cannot expand because of a
         wetting agent is lacking; characterized by rapid shallow
         breathing and cyanosis and the formation of a glassy
         hyaline membrane over the alveoli [syn: {respiratory
         distress syndrome}, {respiratory distress syndrome of the
         newborn}, {hyaline membrane disease}]