Which condition typically features mild intercostal and subcostal retractions?

Transient tachypnea of the newborn is characterized by mild intercostal and subcostal retractions due to an insufficient clearance of fetal lung fluid after birth. This condition often occurs in near-term or term infants who were delivered via cesarean section without preceding labor, as the absence of the thoracic squeezing mechanism during vaginal delivery can hinder fluid removal from the lungs.

In transient tachypnea of the newborn, the retractions are generally noted to be mild, and the overall respiratory distress is typically moderate. The condition is usually self-limiting and resolves within 24 to 72 hours, as the fluid is gradually reabsorbed by the lungs. This differentiates it from other respiratory conditions in newborns, such as respiratory distress syndrome or severe respiratory infections, which may present with more significant respiratory distress and pronounced retractions.

The other conditions mentioned are more complex: intraventricular hemorrhage relates to bleeding in the brain, periventricular leukomalacia involves damage to the white matter of the brain and does not directly correlate with respiratory symptoms, and respiratory distress syndrome is characterized by more severe respiratory distress and retractions due to surfactant deficiency. Thus, the mild nature of the retractions in transient tachypnea of the