A rare neonatal disorder, polycythaemia occurs when a newborn has an abnormal number of blood cells. This condition can cause very serious health effects in babies, but many experience a good outcome when receiving swift treatment for any medical issues contributing to polycythaemia.
A child is diagnosed with polycythaemia when more than 65% of their blood consists of red blood cells. Polycythaemia is often associated with medical issues and conditions that precede birth. This includes:
This condition can also result from genetic diseases and abnormalities, as well as twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome, which occurs when one twin passes blood to the other in utero.
Infants with polycythaemia often exhibit the following symptoms:
If symptoms of polycythaemia are present after birth, doctors can perform a test called a haematocrit to determine the percentage of red blood cells in a baby’s blood.
Severe cases of polycythaemia are associated with some complications, such as:
Timely treatment is crucial to prevent more serious health problems from occurring.
Treatment of polycythaemia depends on whether a newborn is showing symptoms. If no symptoms are present but blood testing confirms a high percentage of red blood cells, the baby will receive fluids to prevent dehydration (which can exacerbate the condition).
If symptoms are present, doctors can remove a portion of the baby’s blood and replace it with a saline solution. Infants must also receive treatment for any underlying health issues contributing to the condition. For example, correcting heart abnormalities causing hypoxia can also alleviate the effects of polycythaemia.