Final answer:
Signs confirming respiratory distress in a newborn include cyanosis, tachypnea, and retractions, with all symptoms combined confirming the condition. These are also taken into account in Apgar scoring immediately after birth to determine a newborn's health status.
Step-by-step explanation:
A newborn in respiratory distress will show several signs confirming this condition. These signs include 1) Cyanosis, where the skin may appear blue due to a lack of oxygen, 2) Tachypnea, which is an abnormally rapid breathing rate, and 3) Retractions, where the chest appears to sink in below the neck or under the breastbone during breathing effort. Consequently, the correct answer to which signs confirm respiratory distress in a newborn would be 4) All of the above.
Respiratory distress syndrome (RDS), which primarily occurs in infants born prematurely, is characterized by an insufficient production of pulmonary surfactant, leading to challenges in lung inflation at birth. Apgar scores, which assess skin color, heart rate, reflex, muscle tone, and respiration, are used shortly after birth to determine how well the baby is transitioning from the womb. Scores below 7 may indicate a need for medical assistance.