Erythroblastosis Fetalis (Noun)
Meaning
Severe anemia in newborn babies; the result of Rh incompatibility between maternal and fetal blood; typically occurs when the child of an Rh-negative mother inherits Rh-positive blood from the father; can be diagnosed before birth by amniocentesis.
Classification
Nouns denoting natural processes.
Examples
- Erythroblastosis fetalis is a severe anemia in newborn babies that occurs when the mother's immune system reacts to the Rh-positive blood of her unborn child.
- The disease is usually caused by Rh incompatibility between the maternal and fetal blood, which can be identified through prenatal testing.
- Erythroblastosis fetalis typically occurs when the child of an Rh-negative mother inherits Rh-positive blood from the father, triggering an immune response.
- Pregnant women who are Rh-negative are at risk of having a child with erythroblastosis fetalis, especially if they have had previous pregnancies or blood transfusions.
- Erythroblastosis fetalis can be diagnosed before birth by amniocentesis, allowing for prompt medical intervention and minimizing the risk to the baby.