European Journal of Molecular & Clinical Medicine

Abstract

Background: Anemia of newborns is a worldwide health concern. Since neonatal
anemia is associated with late neurological deficits, and is a leading cause of the risk
of perinatal mortality and requires urgent attention. Standard hemoglobin level for a
term newborn is 19.3±2.2 g/dL. Anemia of the newborns can be physiological,owing
to excessive blood loss, increased destruction of RBCor decreased production of
RBC. Newborn babies with anemia are pale, and may have tachypnea, tachycardia,
poor feeding, and hypotension with acute blood loss and jaundice when there is
hemolysis of RBC. Hemoglobin concentration is the best tool, for the diagnosis of
anemia in Newborns. The treatment depends on the underlying cause; Newborns, who
have rapidly lost large amounts of blood are treated with I/V fluids followed by blood
transfusion,reducing the blood loss due to repeated phlebotomy and blood extraction
for investigations may reduce the need of blood transfusion. Other treatments are
Autologous Placental Blood Transfusion, Erythropoietin therapy, and Nutritional
Supplementation.