Question
What should be noted in the daily diet of a newborn with hemolytic disease?
Answer
Newborn hemolytic disease occurs when there is incompatibility between the mother and baby’s blood types, leading to red blood cell destruction in the fetus or newborn due to the immune antibodies IgG from the mother passing through the placenta and causing a cross-reactive immune response. Pre-natal treatment may include plasma exchange in pregnant women, intrauterine transfusion, and consideration of an early delivery. Post-natal treatment includes blood transfusion therapy, phototherapy for jaundice, correcting anemia, and symptomatic treatment. Additionally, active treatment and management for jaundice are required to prevent complications.