Hemolytic disease of the newborn

Hemolytic disease of a newborn child is one of the most dangerous diseases, which, in the absence of treatment, and sometimes even during it, can result in a fatal outcome. The essence of this disease is reduced to a conflict between the mother and fetus, during which the immune system of the mother produces specific antibodies that penetrate the blood of the fetus and cause the decay of red blood cells.

Hemolytic disease of the newborn: causes .

A similar disease develops if there are antigens in the blood of the child that are not present in the mother's blood. For example, very often there is a so-called Rh-conflict, when the fetus is Rh positive and inherited from the father, while the mother has a negative. The incompatibility of organisms in the blood group is much less frequent.

The situation is only aggravated if during the pregnancy the mother has had a serious infectious disease or has some chronic illnesses, since at that time the permeability of the placenta for antibodies is enhanced. The risk groups include women with diabetes and other diseases of the endocrine glands.

Hemolytic disease of the newborn: symptoms and development of the disease .

When the mother antigens enter the fetus, hemolysis begins , which affects the development of the unborn child. Antigens can penetrate both during pregnancy through the placenta, and already directly during the birth process. There are three main forms of hemolytic disease - edematous, anemic and icteric.

Osteal hemolytic disease - is the result of prolonged exposure to antibodies to the fetus. The child does not die, but there are a number of dangerous changes in his body. For example, in order to compensate for the loss of erythrocytes, additional foci of hematopoiesis are formed in the child's body. This fetus has an increase in the heart, liver, glands of the endocrine system, as well as the spleen. Accordingly, the liver functions are violated, the vessels become more permeable - the edema of the entire fetal body develops, and its mass increases almost twofold.

The icteric form is observed in the case when the mother's antibodies begin to affect already the mature fetus. Such children are born normal, but within a few hours of life jaundice begins to develop. The spleen and liver of this newborn are increased, and the blood level of bilirubin is significantly increased. In some cases, the child is already born with a yellow skin color, and the amniotic fluid has the same uncharacteristic color. It should be noted that bilirubin is very toxic to the body and gradually affects the kidneys and nervous system, causing noticeable violations in the development of the child, renal failure, mechanical jaundice, and in some cases, rapid fetal death.

The anemic form of the disease is considered one of the easiest, because it is caused only by the short-term effect of antibodies. Such children are born with very pale covers. When analyzing the blood, the level of erythrocytes and hemoglobin decreases. But jaundice in these children, as a rule, does not develop and with the appropriate treatment, further normal development of the organism is possible.

Hemolytic disease of the newborn: diagnosis.

First, if there is a risk of developing such a disease, the doctor must collect a complete history of the woman, including the presence of such cases in the family. In some cases, amniotic fluid analysis is needed, which will indicate the presence of changes and will measure the level of bilirubin.

Hemolytic disease of newborns: treatment .

Treatment of such a child should be comprehensive, and it is assigned individually. The medicines and their dosage should correspond to the state of the child's body, the severity of the lesion and the form of the disease.

As a rule, children with this diagnosis need a compensated blood transfusion, during which the level of red blood cells and hemoglobin increases, the content of free toxic bilirubin decreases. In addition, a sick child needs several vitamins for several weeks. The child should eat only artificial milk for the first few weeks.

Hemolytic disease of newborns: consequences .

The prognosis for children with mild and moderate form of the disease is positive, as in the course of appropriate treatment the development of babies is normal.

As for newborns with severe form, they develop the so-called nuclear jaundice, when bilirubin affects the brain. The course of the disease can be stopped, but with an organic disruption of the nervous system, children develop with psychological and physical abnormalities.