Rh disease
Rh disease
Rh disease (pronounced "R H disease"), also known as Rh incompatibility or Rh alloimmunization, is a condition that can occur when a pregnant woman has Rh-negative blood and her baby has Rh-positive blood.
Pronunciation
Rh disease: /ɑːrˈeɪtʃ dɪˈziːz/
Etymology
The term "Rh" comes from the Rhesus monkey, in which the Rh antigen was first discovered. The term "disease" is derived from the Old French "desaise", meaning lack of ease.
Definition
Rh disease is a potentially fatal condition that can occur when a fetus's blood type is incompatible with that of its mother. This can lead to the mother's immune system attacking the baby's red blood cells, causing anemia and other complications.
Symptoms
Symptoms of Rh disease in a newborn can include jaundice, anemia, brain damage, heart failure, and in severe cases, death.
Causes
Rh disease is caused by an incompatibility between the blood types of a mother and her fetus. This can occur if the mother is Rh-negative and the fetus is Rh-positive.
Prevention
Rh disease can be prevented by administering a medication called Rh immune globulin to the mother during pregnancy and after delivery.
Treatment
Treatment for Rh disease can include blood transfusions for the baby, either before or after birth.
Related Terms
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Rh disease
- Wikipedia's article - Rh disease
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