Question

Briefly explain how haemolytic disease of the new born develops and currently why the incidence of this complication is low.

Answer 1

Hemolytic disease of the newborn occurs most often when a Rh-negative mother has a child with a Rh-positive father. If the Rh factor of the child is positive, like that of his or her father, this can be a problem if the red blood cells of the child cross over to the Rh-negative mother. This also occurs when a placenta breaks away at birth.

This disease is also called erythroblastosis fetalis, it is a blood disorder that happens when the blood types of the mother and child are incompatible.

In cases of ABO incompatibility and Rh incompatibility, the risk of alloimmunization is minimized because fetal red blood cells are eliminated from the maternal circulation due to anti-ABO antibodies before they can induce an anti-Rh reaction.