RH INCOMPATIBILITY Meaning and
Definition
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Rh incompatibility refers to a condition in which there is an immunological mismatch between the blood types of a pregnant woman and her fetus. This occurs when the woman is Rh negative and the fetus is Rh positive. Rh factor is a protein found on the surface of red blood cells, and individuals can either be Rh positive (having the protein) or Rh negative (lacking the protein). If an Rh negative woman is exposed to Rh positive blood, such as during pregnancy or blood transfusion, her immune system may produce antibodies against the Rh factor.
During a first pregnancy, Rh incompatibility typically does not cause any immediate problems, but it may become an issue in subsequent pregnancies. If the fetus is Rh positive, the antibodies produced by the mother can cross the placenta and attack the baby's red blood cells, leading to a condition known as Rh disease or hemolytic disease of the newborn. This can result in severe anemia, jaundice, enlargement of vital organs, and in some cases, death.
To prevent Rh disease, Rh-negative pregnant women are regularly tested and monitored. If the father of the baby is Rh positive, the mother may receive a special medication called Rh immune globulin, which prevents her from producing Rh antibodies. This treatment is typically administered around the 28th week of pregnancy and within 72 hours after delivery or any potential exposure to fetal blood. Rh incompatibility can be effectively managed with proper medical supervision, allowing for a healthy pregnancy and birth of a baby.
Common Misspellings for RH INCOMPATIBILITY
- eh incompatibility
- dh incompatibility
- fh incompatibility
- th incompatibility
- 5h incompatibility
- 4h incompatibility
- rg incompatibility
- rb incompatibility
- rn incompatibility
- rj incompatibility
- ru incompatibility
- ry incompatibility
- rh uncompatibility
- rh jncompatibility
- rh kncompatibility
- rh oncompatibility
- rh 9ncompatibility
- rh 8ncompatibility
- rh ibcompatibility
- rh imcompatibility
Etymology of RH INCOMPATIBILITY
The word "Rh" in "Rh incompatibility" refers to the Rh factor, which is a protein found on the surface of red blood cells. The term "Rh" is an abbreviation of Rhesus, named after the Rhesus monkey. The story behind this goes back to the mid-20th century when scientists were conducting experiments on monkeys to better understand the blood transfusion process. During these experiments, it was discovered that some monkeys produced this unique protein on their red blood cells, which was further classified as the Rh factor.
When the Rh factor was first identified in humans, it was recognized to have significant implications during pregnancy. Rh incompatibility occurs when an Rh-negative woman conceives an Rh-positive fetus, leading to potential complications.
