Question
Doctor, what impact does neonatal hemolytic disease have on a child’s growth? My child has been experiencing this condition for some time, and I’m hesitant to give them medication. Could you please provide some advice?
Answer
Neonatal hemolytic disease is a hemolytic disease of the newborn caused by incompatibility between the mother and baby’s blood types. In our country, most cases are due to ABO blood type incompatibility, with fewer cases of Rh incompatibility, and even fewer cases involving other blood type systems such as MN and Kell. The severity of symptoms can vary greatly, with ABO incompatibility typically causing milder symptoms than Rh incompatibility. Affected infants often develop jaundice within 24 hours or the next day after birth, and the condition can rapidly worsen. As jaundice deepens, anemia, liver and spleen enlargement may occur, and in severe cases, bilirubin encephalopathy can develop. Rh-incompatible massive hemolysis can lead to severe anemia at birth, potentially causing heart failure, general edema, or even stillbirth. For this situation, please decide whether to give your child medication after consulting with your doctor.