Can neonatal hemolytic disease be cured?

Neonatal hemolytic disease refers to the mismatch between the child's blood type and the mother's. This will cause the child's red blood cells to dissolve, leading to increased bilirubin. This is a symptom of jaundice that children often experience. Generally, hemolytic disease can be well treated, especially for mild cases. As long as the condition is strengthened, it will heal on its own. For more serious cases, timely treatment is required to avoid adverse effects on the child's physical and mental development and intelligence.

Can hemolytic disease of the newborn be cured?

Neonatal ABO hemolytic disease can be cured. Some babies with mild illnesses can recover on their own in a few weeks. If the baby's condition does not improve and becomes more serious after a week or two, then medical treatment is necessary, because if the condition is left untreated, the baby is likely to develop bilirubin encephalopathy. Bilirubin encephalopathy can easily cause sequelae such as limb disabilities, visual impairment, deafness, poor dental development, mental retardation, epilepsy, etc., which affect the physical and mental development of children and the consequences are very serious.

Therefore, parents should carefully observe changes in their baby's condition, communicate and discuss with doctors in a timely manner, and receive professional treatment.

Methods for testing whether a newborn has hemolytic disease

1. Diagnosis of hemolytic disease of the newborn

Mainly rely on laboratory tests. The children's red blood cells and hemoglobin can be significantly decreased, the total bilirubin is increased, and the increase is mainly indirect bilirubin. The normal indirect bilirubin level in a person is less than 8.55 μmol/l (0.5 mg per 100 ml). If it is as high as 342 μmol/l (20 mg per 100 ml), it will cause jaundice in the nuclei of brain cells, severely damage nerve cells, and significantly reduce the intelligence of the child.

2. Babies with neonatal hemolytic disease will have various symptoms

The main manifestations are jaundice, hepatosplenomegaly, anemia, etc. Mild symptoms progress slowly and have little impact on the overall condition; severe symptoms progress quickly, with symptoms such as drowsiness, anorexia, and even bilirubin encephalopathy or death.

jaundice:

Most newborns will have jaundice after birth, but when jaundice appears too early, develops too quickly, or the bilirubin level in the blood is too high, you should be aware of the possibility of hemolytic disease. Jaundice in infants with hemolytic disease usually appears within 24 hours after birth or on the second day.

anemia:

Due to the destruction of red blood cells, babies suffering from hemolytic disease have anemia of varying severity.

Hepatosplenomegaly:

In severe hemolytic disease, fetal edema may occur and the liver and spleen may be significantly enlarged. This symptom is more common in Rh hemolytic disease.

Bilirubin encephalopathy:

When the bilirubin level in the blood is too high, it will damage brain cells and cause bilirubin encephalopathy, which is the most serious complication of hemolytic disease. It usually occurs 2 to 7 days after delivery, with symptoms of worsening jaundice and neurological symptoms in the child, such as drowsiness, feeding difficulties, staring eyes, convulsions, etc. If not treated promptly, it may lead to death or sequelae such as motor dysfunction and intellectual disability.

fever:

Fever may be a reaction of the body after hemolysis in children, or it may be a more serious bilirubin encephalopathy. The fever may not necessarily be very high, but if it occurs due to the latter, it means that the condition is quite serious.