Blood Diseases Newborns Get

There are several blood disorders and diseases that newborns can develop. They are anemia of prematurely, hemorrhagic disease of the newborn, hemolytic disease of the newborn, neonatal alloimmune...

There are several blood disorders and diseases that newborns can develop. They are anemia of prematurely, hemorrhagic disease of the newborn, hemolytic disease of the newborn, neonatal alloimmune thrombocytopenia, and Rh disease.

A blood disorder that is commonly seen in premature infants is anemia of prematurely. Infants born prematurely require much testing for infections and other medical reasons due to their precarious medical state. This constant blood testing (usually heel sticks), can deplete the blood supple reducing the oxygen delivered by the blood to the organs. The production of erythropoietin (EPO) declines and this is what regulates blood flow.

Treatment for anemia of prematurely is to minimize the amount of blood that is taken from premature infants. The volume of blood in premature infants is approximately 100ml/kg of body weight or approximately 5 ounces for a baby that is 1.5 kg. Special equipment should be used when ever possible to detect blood-gas without having to remove blood. Recombinant EPO should also be used to stimulate production of red blood cells in order to regulate the flow of blood. This process is lengthy and can take up to two weeks to accomplish.

Hemorrhagic disease of the newborn is a blood disorder that is characterized by a defect in the way the blood clots. This defect is due to a deficiency in Vitamin K. Vitamin K is responsible for the clotting of blood. This can occur in the first few days of newborn life. Typically newborns are born with low levels of Vitamin K. Breastfed infants receive less Vitamin K than formula fed infants and newborns whose mothers took anticonvulsant medications while pregnant are at the most risk for this deficiency. Severe bleeding and hemorrhaging can occur since the baby’s blood will not be able to clot as well with below normal range of Vitamin K. If severe bleeding occurs this could threaten the baby’s life.

Infants with this disorder may have bleeding from the scalp, suffer convulsions, become irritable, or have blood stained sputum. Other symptoms include blindness, weakness of limbs and coma. The baby needs immediate medical care. Blood clotting time tests can diagnose the disorder and distinguish it from hemophilia. Other tests such as the ultrasound and MRI can be used to determine the extent of damage caused by the disorder.

Treatment is to administer Vitamin K injection, and if needed to give a blood transfusion.

Hemolytic disease of the newborn or HDN, is an alloimmune disorder that develops in the fetal stage in which IgG antibodies are passed from the mother down through the placenta to the fetus. The fetus develops anemia from the breakdown of red blood cells. The baby when born can suffer jaundice, heart failure, enlarged liver or spleen, and respiratory distress. Some babies are stillborn or die shortly after birth.

Treatment includes intrauterine blood transfusion before birth or early induction of labor if pulmonary maturity has been established, fetal distress occurs or when the pregnancy reaches 35 to 37 weeks of gestation.

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