Explain erythroblastosis foetalis.

● Erythroblastosis foetalis is a haemolytic disease of the new-born , arising due to anomaly in the Rh factor. During pregnancy, if the mother is Rh negative and the foetus is Rh positive, then the maternal body produces antibodies against the foetal antigen. This is due to the mixing of maternal and foetal blood during delivery. The first child is though, born normally.

● Complications arise when in the second pregnancy too, the foetus is Rh positive in a Rh negative mother. This time, the performed antibodies interact with the Rh antigen on the surface of red blood cells of foetus. It leads to haemolysis of the foetal blood due by blood agglutination method, cause destruction you RBCs , and ultimately death of foetus in the mother’s womb. Even if the child takes birth, he /she remains weak, and is infected with hepatitis.