Final answer:
The correct answer is 'choking, coughing, and cyanosis', which are symptoms associated with tracheoesophageal defects in infants, indicative of potential respiratory system complications.
Step-by-step explanation:
The three Cs associated with tracheoesophageal defects in infants are choking, coughing, and cyanosis. These symptoms are indicative of respiratory complications that can arise from congenital conditions such as tracheoesophageal fistula or esophageal atresia. When an infant experiences these symptoms, it suggests that there is an abnormal connection between the trachea and esophagus, which can lead to aspiration of food into the lungs, resulting in choking and coughing. Cyanosis is a sign that the body is not receiving enough oxygen, which can be a result of the difficulties these infants have with effective breathing.
Respiratory Complications in Infants
Conditions like Respiratory Distress Syndrome (RDS) and severe septal defects like tetralogy of Fallot are known to cause respiratory complications in newborns. In RDS, infants born prematurely may face difficulties breathing due to insufficient pulmonary surfactant production, resulting in dyspnea and low oxygen levels, leading to cyanosis. Severe septal defects can cause improper mixing of oxygenated and deoxygenated blood, which also leads to cyanosis. Both conditions highlight the importance of adequate oxygenation in newborns and potential complications in the respiratory system.