What medical condition do premature infants experience due to a lack of surfactant?

Premature infants often lack adequate surfactant, a substance that helps reduce surface tension in the lungs and is crucial for proper lung function. When surfactant levels are insufficient, it can lead to a condition known as Infant Respiratory Distress Syndrome (IRDS).

In IRDS, the alveoli, which are tiny air sacs in the lungs, collapse after each breath due to increased surface tension caused by the absence of surfactant. This collapse limits the infant's ability to breathe effectively and results in inadequate oxygenation of the blood, making it a life-threatening condition in preterm infants.

The other conditions listed do not directly relate to a surfactant deficiency. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is primarily a disease seen in older adults due to long-term exposure to harmful substances, while pneumonia is an infection that can occur at any age and is not specifically linked to surfactant levels. Asthma is a chronic condition characterized by airway inflammation and obstruction, but it does not stem from a lack of surfactant. Thus, the correct association with a deficiency in surfactant in premature infants is indeed Infant Respiratory Distress Syndrome.