Question
My baby was found to have neonatal hemolytic disease during birth. What are the symptoms of this disease?
Answer
Patients with neonatal hemolytic disease may present with symptoms such as edema, pallor, skin ecchymosis, pleural effusion, ascites, low heart sounds, rapid heart rate, difficulty breathing, and enlargement of the liver and spleen. In cases of Rh hemolytic disease, the fetus may experience massive red blood cell destruction during pregnancy, leading to generalized edema and potentially resulting in stillbirth. The cause of fetal edema may be related to factors such as heart failure, hypoproteinemia, and increased capillary permeability.