NEONATAL ANEMIA:
Normal value of cord blood Hb is16.5-18 g/dl at term,
15 g/dl in preterm.
Anemia is defined as: Hb<12g/dl in the first week,
or <10g/dl after that.
PHYSIOLOGIC ANEMIA:
The initially high Hb gradually falls to reach 9 g/dl
by 2-3 months of age in term infants, and 7g/dl by
4-6 wk. of age in the preterm infants with no
underlying pathological cause.
EARLY ONSET ANEMIA (<7days of age):
Causes:
1. Impaired red cell production:
a. Congenital infection.
b. Congenital leukemia.
c. Folic acid deficiency.
2. Infection e.g. sepsis.
3. RBC membrane disorders e.g. spherocytosis.
4. RBC enzyme problems e.g. G6PD deficiency.
5. Hemoglobinopathies e.g. Thalassemia.
1.Hemorrhage:
a. Perinatal hemorrhage.
b. Excessive blood sampling.
c. Hemorrhagic disease of newborn(H.D.N.).
2. Hemolysis:
a. Rh, ABO incompatibility.
b. Sepsis.
c. Hemoglobinopathies.
d. Red cell membrane defects e.g. spherocytosis.
e. Vitamin E deficiency.
LATE ONSET ANEMIA
(>7days
of age):
3. Decreased RBC production:
a. Anemia of prematurity.
b. Infection.
c. Folic acid deficiency.
ANEMIA OF PREMATURITY:
Hb 7- 9 g/dl with low retic count(0.2%) at 4-8wk.of
age with no pathological cause, due to:
1. reduced RBC life span.
2. low erythropoietin level.
3. nutritional deficiency.
4. rapid growth.
MANAGEMENT
OF NEONATAL ANEMIA:
1.Treat underlying cause.
2. Give iron ,folate, vit.E
3. Transfuse with packed cells if Hb is
< 8g/dl
.