What are the treatments for neonatal hemolytic jaundice?
Neonatal hemolytic jaundice, which is hemolytic jaundice caused by Rh blood group incompatibility or other blood group incompatibility, is one of the common diseases in the neonatal period. If left untreated, jaundice can progress severely and even cause damage to the nervous system. This article will introduce in detail the treatment methods of neonatal hemolytic jaundice from the aspects of prevention, drug treatment, phototherapy, and blood transfusion treatment.
Preventing the occurrence of hemolytic jaundice
Preventing the occurrence of hemolytic jaundice is key. Both parents have different blood types, so pregnant women need to undergo blood type testing and antibody screening during pregnancy. If no antibodies are produced, Rh-negative immunoglobulin should be injected within 24 hours after birth to inhibit the Rh-positive fetus\’s red blood cells from entering the maternal circulation. In addition, if the blood types are different, pregnant women need to undergo regular prenatal check-ups to check the type of fetal red blood cells to focus on the cause of jaundice.
Drug treatment
Drug treatment is one of the common methods for neonatal hemolytic jaundice, mainly giving immunosuppressants and bilirubin degraders. Immunosuppressants such as intravenous immunoglobulin and methotrexate can inhibit neonatal hemolytic jaundice caused by fetal Rh+ red blood cells entering the placenta. Bilirubin degraders such as pyrazinamide, phenobarbital, naphthol, etc. can accelerate bilirubin metabolism and reduce jaundice.
Phototherapy
Phototherapy is another method of treating hemolytic jaundice in newborns. Phototherapy uses a special blue light tube to irradiate the skin of newborns, converting bilirubin in the blood into water-soluble substances, which are excreted from the body through urine and toilets. Phototherapy usually starts within 24 hours after birth and lasts for 8-12 hours a day. The irradiation locations are mainly on the head and trunk. When using phototherapy, special attention must be paid to keeping newborns warm to prevent allergic and other adverse reactions.
Blood transfusion treatment
When neonatal hemolytic jaundice threatens life, blood transfusion is required. Blood transfusion therapy mainly involves whole blood or red blood cell transfusion to increase the number of red blood cells and reduce the impact of hemolytic jaundice on newborns. However, blood transfusion therapy also has some adverse reactions, such as infection, transfusion reaction, etc., which require special attention.
In summary, the treatment methods for neonatal hemolytic jaundice include prevention of hemolytic jaundice, drug treatment, phototherapy and blood transfusion therapy. When treating neonatal hemolytic jaundice, the choice needs to be based on the specific situation and treated according to the doctor\’s recommendations. After timely treatment, it is necessary to strengthen the care of newborns to prevent the recurrence of neonatal hemolytic jaundice, and at the same time, pay attention to the feeding and warmth of newborns.
