FREQUENCY OF ABO INCOMPATIBILITY IN NEONATAL JAUNDICE

Abstract

Objective:

To determine the frequency of ABO incompatibility in neonatal jaundice.

Methods:

This cross-sectional study included 156 patients and was conducted in the department of pediatrics at Dr. Faisal Masood Teaching Hospital Sargodha. We included neonates of age 1-28 days of either gender who were admitted with neonatal jaundice. Phototherapy was applied to all jaundiced neonates. The frequency of ABO incompatibility was noted. ABO blood incompatibility was labelled if the neonate had the presence of indirect hyperbilirubinemia with blood group type A or B and maternal blood type O.

Results:

The mean age at admission was 4.2±3.5 days. The mean gestational age at birth was 38.4±1.2 weeks, and the mean birth weight was 3172±470 grams. Most of the neonates were from rural areas, with 106 (67.9%) residing in rural locations and 50 (32.1%) from urban areas. Out of 156 patients, ABO incompatibility was diagnosed in 19 (12.19%) patients.

Conclusion:

ABO incompatibility is common in neonates admitted with jaundice. Screening for blood group incompatibility between mother and fetus, along with timely intervention when ABO incompatibility is detected, can help decrease the risk of complications from neonatal jaundice.