What condition are low birth weight infants at greatest risk for developing?

Low birth weight infants are at significant risk for developing Respiratory Distress Syndrome (RDS) primarily due to their underdeveloped lungs. RDS is most commonly associated with prematurity and low birth weight because surfactant production, which is crucial for keeping the alveoli open and reducing surface tension in the lungs, typically begins late in fetal development. Infants who are born before 34 weeks of gestation or those who have a low birth weight often lack adequate amounts of surfactant, leading to atelectasis (collapse of the lung) and respiratory compromise.

In contrast, the other conditions mentioned, while they can also affect infants, are not as directly tied to low birth weight as RDS. Hydrocephalus is a neurological condition that involves the accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid in the brain and is not specifically linked to low birth weight. Meconium Aspiration Syndrome occurs when a newborn inhales a mixture of meconium and amniotic fluid into the lungs, usually related to stress during delivery rather than birth weight. Hyperbilirubinemia, which involves elevated bilirubin levels causing jaundice, can occur in any infant but is not specifically tied to low birth weight in the way that RDS is.