What condition is characterized by a baby being unable to breathe and can be treated with calcium citrate IV?

The condition characterized by a baby being unable to breathe and treated with calcium citrate IV is apnea of prematurity. This condition commonly occurs in premature infants whose central nervous system is not fully developed, leading to pauses in breathing that can last for more than 20 seconds or be associated with bradycardia or oxygen desaturation.

Calcium citrate can be administered intravenously in such cases as part of the management strategy, particularly if the apnea episodes are frequent or severe, as it may help in stabilizing the infant's respiratory drive.

In contrast, respiratory distress syndrome primarily involves the deficiency of surfactant in the lungs of preterm infants, leading to difficulty in breathing due to alveolar collapse. Bronchopulmonary dysplasia is a chronic lung disease often seen in premature infants who have received oxygen and mechanical ventilation due to respiratory distress syndrome. Lastly, congenital diaphragmatic hernia results from a developmental defect allowing abdominal contents to enter the thoracic cavity, leading to respiratory distress due to lung compression. Each of these conditions can cause breathing difficulties but are managed differently and don’t typically involve calcium citrate as a primary treatment option.