the aim of this work is to explore the clinical characteristics, therapeutic interventions and short term outcomes of preterm or term infants who required respiratory support.This study was conducted on fifty five respiratory distress neonates in NICU of Zagazig university hospital during the period from February to August 2010.The patients in our study were subjected to:History taking, clinical data including demographic variables, underlying disease, investigations include CBC, ABGs, chest X rays, complications, therapeutic interventions and short-term outcomes were collected.Our results reveal that the majority of the neonates were male (72.7 %). the late preterm infants have higher respiratory morbidity. The mean gestational age of this study was (33.98± 3.058) weeks. The mean weight was (2.126± 0.7015) Kg. The main underlying diseases of infants needing respiratory support are respiratory distress syndrome, transient tachypnea of newborn, and pneumonia. Infants delivered by cesarean section are at high risk of respiratory morbidity. Non invasive ventilation failed with (21.8%) of neonates so shifted to invasive ventilation. The mean duration of ventilation was (14± 11.364) days. The complications detected in our study were (50.9%) of neonates. The fate of the respiratory distressed neonates in our study was (65.5%) discharged well, while (34.5%) died.