A common presentation of an uncommon cause of neonatal respiratory distress: pneumonia alba.

While lung involvement is an uncommon presentation of congenital syphilis, respiratory distress is a common leading symptom in sick newborns. We describe an infant who presented with respiratory distress thought to be secondary to congenital syphilis and discuss the findings suggestive of an etiology other than respiratory distress syndrome (RDS). © 1993 Wiley-Liss, Inc.