Hemolytic Disease of the Newborn and Neonatal Hyperbilirubinemia

Question

Do newborns with hemolytic disease need to be diagnosed for neonatal hyperbilirubinemia as well?

Answer

Hemolytic disease of the newborn is a condition caused by incompatibility between the mother’s and the baby’s blood types, leading to symptoms such as jaundice, edema, and anemia in the newborn. Neonatal hyperbilirubinemia is a manifestation of hemolytic disease of the newborn and usually does not require separate diagnosis. Treatment includes glucose supplementation and, if necessary, blood transfusion. For severe cases, timely treatment is needed to prevent complications such as bilirubin encephalopathy.