Final answer:
The signs indicating respiratory distress in a newborn are primarily nasal flaring, grunting, or retractions, which suggest difficulty in breathing due to possibly insufficient pulmonary surfactant, especially in premature newborns. (option b)
Step-by-step explanation:
The signs that may indicate respiratory distress in a newborn are primarily B) Nasal flaring, grunting, or retractions. These symptoms suggest that the newborn is working harder to breathe. Rapid breathing and loud crying are less specific signs and may occur in a variety of situations.
Frequent sneezing and hiccups are typically normal for newborns and are not usually signs of respiratory distress. Rapid heartbeat and excessive drooling could have different causes and are not definitive signs of respiratory distress either.
Newborns, especially those born prematurely, may lack the sufficient pulmonary surfactant needed for the lungs to properly inflate, leading to Respiratory Distress Syndrome (RDS). Insufficient surfactant leads to dyspnea (difficulty breathing), poor gas exchange, low blood oxygen levels, and high blood carbon dioxide levels. Nasal flaring, grunting, and retractions are physical signs of the effort to increase lung volume during breathing when surfactant is lacking.
Hence, the answer is option b