Abstract: Objective To explore the effect of nasal continuous positive airway pressure on infants with respiratory distress syndrome.Methods Seventy neonates with respiratory distress syndrome were studied from September 2016 to September 2017.According to the ventilation method, they were divided into test group (n=35) and conventional group (n=35). The test group received nasal continuous positive airway pressure therapy and the traditional group received nasal cannula or mask oxygen. The ventilation effects of the two groups were analyzed and summarized.Results Pa O₂ (73.8 ± 6.7) mm Hg and p H (7.3 ± 0.1) of the test group were significantly higher than those of the conventional group at 24 h after treatment, and the Pa CO₂ level (44.8 ± 5.8) mm Hg was significantly lower than that of the conventional group (49.5 ± 6.2) mm Hg (P=0.000, 0.002 and 0.000). Ventilation time (25.3 ± 5.1) h, hospitalization time (22.1 ± 4.2) d and hospitalization cost (2.1 ± 1.4) yuan in the test group were significantly lower than those in the traditional group (31.2 ± 5.6) h, (28.5 ± 4.6) d and (2.8 ± 1.1) yuan (P=0.000, 0.000 and 0.023). The incidence of complications in the test group was significantly lower than that of the traditional group (8.6% vs 31.4%, P=0.017).Conclusion The therapy effect of nasal continuous positive airway pressure in neonatal respiratory distress syndrome patients is good.