Patient's question:
After the baby was born, there was jaundice on his face and body. After taking medication to reduce jaundice, it recurred. The hospital examination revealed positive neonatal hemolysis, which is neonatal hemolytic jaundice. I don't understand anything about it at all. What exactly is neonatal hemolysis positivity? How serious is this condition?Doctor's answer:
Hemolytic disease of the newborn refers to blood type antibodies that are incompatible with the fetal blood type antigens due to blood type incompatibility between the mother and fetus. These antibodies enter the fetus through the placenta, causing immune hemolysis. Common blood type incompatibilities in the ABO blood group system include some cases of Rh blood group differences. The disease can cause hemolytic jaundice, which may lead to acute bilirubin encephalopathy and result in kernicterus, endangering the life of the newborn. Treatment is based on phototherapy and blood transfusion.