Babies suffering from neonatal hemolysis will have various symptoms, mainly jaundice, hepatosplenomegaly, anemia, etc. The mild symptoms progress slowly, and the overall condition has little impact; the severe disease progresses quickly, causing lethargy, anorexia, and even bilirubin encephalopathy or death.
Jaundice The bilirubin decomposed by the destruction of red blood cells is yellow. It can be distributed throughout the body and make the color of body tissues yellow. Because the skin and sclera (commonly known as white eyes) are located on the surface of the body, the yellowing is the most obvious, which is jaundice. Most newborns will have jaundice after birth, but when jaundice appears prematurely, develops too quickly, or the blood bilirubin level is too high, it is necessary to pay attention to the possibility of hemolysis. Jaundice in hemolytic infants often appears within 24 hours or on the second day after birth.
Anemia Because of the destruction of red blood cells, babies suffering from hemolysis have anemia of varying severity.
Liver and spleen enlargement When severe hemolysis occurs, fetal edema may occur and the liver and spleen may be enlarged. This symptom is more common in Rh hemolytic disease.
Bilirubin encephalopathy. Excessive blood bilirubin levels can damage brain cells and cause bilirubin encephalopathy, which is the most serious comorbidity of hemolytic disease. It usually occurs 2 to 7 days after childbirth, and it manifests as aggravation of jaundice, and the child has neurological symptoms such as lethargy, feeding difficulties, staring eyes, and convulsions. If not treated in time, it may cause death or sequelae such as motor dysfunction and mental retardation.
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 high, but if it occurs because of the latter, it means that the condition is already serious.
Mom and Dad don’t need to worry too much
Young parents don’t have to worry too much. Under normal circumstances, the symptoms of ABO blood group hemolysis are very mild, and most children do not need special treatment after birth. As long as they are treated with blue light and medication in time, the child’s condition can be relieved, even if it is severe Rh hemolysis. If the blood is replaced in time, the vast majority of babies will be able to go from danger to safety.