Final answer:
Respiratory failure in a pediatric patient is indicated by signs such as severe dyspnea, abnormal blood gas levels, rapid breathing, and abnormal lung sounds. Premature infants may face RDS due to insufficient pulmonary surfactant, necessitating emergency medical care.
Step-by-step explanation:
Indications of respiratory failure in a pediatric patient can be varied but commonly include severe dyspnea, poor gas exchange indicated by low blood oxygen levels and high blood carbon dioxide levels, altered pH, rapid breathing, and abnormal breath sounds such as crackles. Other signs may include an elevated heart rate and possible changes observable through imaging, like abnormal shadows on a chest radiograph indicative of conditions such as pneumonia. In newborns, particularly those born prematurely, insufficient production of pulmonary surfactant may lead to Respiratory Distress Syndrome (RDS), evidenced by difficulty in lung inflation and poor gas exchange, which is a medical emergency and requires immediate attention.