Patient's question:
My baby was diagnosed with neonatal hemolytic disease right after birth by the hospital. The baby is now in the neonatal intensive care unit. Could you please explain how this disease is diagnosed, how serious it is, if it's treatable, and how it should be treated?Doctor's answer:
Pregnant women and mothers with a history of poor delivery or severe jaundice in the previous pregnancy should undergo ABO and RH blood type testing with their husbands. If there is a blood type incompatibility, further testing for related antibodies can be conducted. If there is a blood type incompatibility between mother and baby, it is important to monitor bilirubin levels promptly after birth. Early onset of neonatal jaundice, rapid progression of the condition, a rapid decline in hemoglobin or hematocrit, and a positive Coombs test and/or antibody release test can confirm the diagnosis.