Answer:
A protein named
as rhesus antigen, is present on the surface of red blood corpuscles.
The population
having this protein are called Rh positive while others
who do not have this protein are known as Rh negative (PIT) (dominant).
Erythroblastosis
Foetalis occurs due to Rh incompatibility between the foetus and mother during
pregnancy. Rh antigen of the foetus do not get exposed to the blood of the mother
in the first pregnancy. However, during the delivery of the first child, there
is a possibility, of exposure of the maternal blood to small amounts of the
Rh'^ blood from the foetus.
In such cases, the
mother starts preparing antibodies against Rh antigen in her blood and during
her subsequent pregnancies the Rh antibodies from the mother (Rh - ve) leak
into the blood of the foetus (Rh + ve) resulting in the destruction of foetal
RBCs. This could be fatal to the foetus or could cause severe anaemia and
jaundice , even may lead to the death of the foetus.
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