Which group is most likely to experience complications associated with low surfactant production?

Newborns are the group most likely to experience complications associated with low surfactant production due to their developmental stage. Surfactant is a substance that reduces surface tension in the alveoli (the tiny air sacs in the lungs) and is crucial for keeping them open and functioning properly.

In premature infants, the lungs may not be fully developed, leading to insufficient surfactant production. This condition, known as Respiratory Distress Syndrome (RDS), is a significant risk for these newborns. Symptoms of RDS include difficulty breathing, grunting sounds when exhaling, and a bluish color of the skin due to lack of oxygen.

Unlike newborns, older adults, teenagers, and adults generally do not encounter surfactant insufficiency as a primary issue. The lungs of older adults may be affected by other conditions such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or pneumonia, but these are not directly related to surfactant production. Teenagers are typically beyond the critical age where surfactant deficiency is a concern, as their lungs have matured. Adults also have fully developed lungs and mechanisms to produce surfactant, so complications arising from low surfactant levels are not common in these age groups.

Thus