Let's discuss Rhesus incompatibility,coombs antibody test and why a foetus is not a parasite

in #steemstem6 years ago

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Pregnancy is a science administer by numerous discoveries. It is a relationship between the mother and the foetus(a child in the womb). Most occasions individuals get befuddled concerning the concealed things about conception and how supplements are gotten from the mother by the baby.

Take for example, when I was taking a look at a news paper yesterday,I ran over something composed concerning why the mother's antibody does not respond against the foetus,since the foetus contains the both hereditary make-up of the parents(when both are rhesus positive).

This troubles in the connection between the foetus and the mother is as yet a region bound to be cleared up in due time. However numerous researchers have many comprehension about it, yet at the same time no indisputable response to that inquiry.

Today,I will be detailing on the complications surrounding pregnancy which incorporate hemolytic disease of the new born,coombs antibody test,and why a human embryo or foetus is not a parasite.

Looking at all these complications surrounding pregnancy, you will understand the reason why some women are always in trouble during pregnancy and the reason why death rate of pregnant woman and their children has increased.

Join me as I move down to make a point by point clarification on this topic.

Hemolytic disease of the new born

Antigens antibody reaction is a major factor that needed a great attention in the field of medicine. Most times death occurrence between the foetus and the mother is always accompanied by this reaction.

Taking a look at rhesus incompatibility, when a mother is rhesus negative and she is carrying a child with rhesus positive. There is always a reaction that accompanies such situation. The mother started producing antibody against the rhesus positive child.

In such condition there is always a safe delivery during the first pregnancy due to the fact that antibody of the mother has not grown so strong to fight against the child antigen. But in subsequent pregnancy the mother's antibody react against the child antigen leading to still birth. This reaction can also lead to fetal hydrops,jaundice, and anemia in the child.

The invasion of this disease has lead to a new discovery of an injection called rhogam. This is a sterile solution produced from the blood plasma that is given to a rhesus negative mother in injection form.
This injection is only meant for a pregnant mother carrying a rhesus positive child. It was approved by the food and drug agency(FDA) in 1968 and since then,it has saved a lot of individual. This drug is always taking in the 28th week of pregnancy and within 72 hours after delivery.

Note:there is always a side effect in any drug. Because of this,a close supervision by a health care practitioners are always needed. Such side effect include,difficulty in breathing, hives,fever and swelling of the face,lips,tongue and throat.

Haven't known this,is there anyway a mother or the child can be examine to know if any or both of them are sensitized? Yes there is. This method is what we known as coombs test.
Let us rapidly plunge into what coombs test is all about.

Coombs test

This is a test done to determine the presence of sensitized antibody in the mother or the sensitized red cell in the child(or foetus). This test is typically divided into two which are direct and indirect.

Direct coombs test is specifically for the child why indirect coombs test is for the mother. Direct coombs test is a test done to check if a child or foetus is already sensitized by the mother. Sometimes direct coombs test may not actually be specific for only children.

This sensitization can also occur as a result of sepsis(bacteria infection) or other related diseases which may trigger reaction in the persons body. This test is done by collecting the blood of the person(may be a child) and mixing it with anti human globulin which shows agglutination if there is sensitization in the persons blood and vise versa. This test is done using the persons red cell.

Indirect coombs test

This test is specifically meant for pregnant mother who are rhesus negative, to check if their red cells has already been sensitized by the child antigen.

This test is done by obtaining a serum sample from the mother. This blood are then mixed with red cell and antihuman globulin. Presence of agglutination also indicate sensitization.

With all this factors governing the child and the mother, can foetus be regarded as parasite since all it's nutrients are obtained from the mother.
Most times this differentiation whether a foetus is parasite or not has been a great confusion to people since parasite has almost the same feeding habit with foetus.

This problem associated with foetus are to be detailed as follows

Why a human embryo or foetus is not a parasite

A parasite is an organisms of one species living in or on an organism of other species thereby deriving nutrient from the host. Why
A human embryo or foetus is an organism of one specie which lives in the uterine cavity of an organism of the same species and deriving nutrient from the mother.

Looking at the above definition, the foetus Interaction is a dependent relationship but not a parasitic relationship.

Also,a parasite is an invading organism coming to parasitize the host from an outside source. Why a human embryo or foetus are formed from fertilised egg coming from an inside source, after this formation in the ovary of the mother then move into the oviduct where it is fertilised into zygote.

A parasite is harmful to the host to some extents but a human embryo or foetus that develops in the uterine cavity does not cause any harm to the mother, which means there is always a proper nutrient provided by the mother.

A parasite can also have a direct contact with the host tissue using their mouth parts such as hook or suckers. But in foetus it only makes direct contact for a short period of time where it is now being isolated inside it's own amniotic sac and now make indirect contact with the mother.

With these explanation, we can therefore say that a human embryo or foetus is not a parasite.

Conclusion

The hazard factor related with pregnancy has caused a considerable measure of death because of rhesus contradiction, most occasions individuals may not by any stretch of the imagination comprehend the purpose for the passing of a kid.

In this 21 century, numerous incredible changes has been occurring which generation of this infusion called rhogam is one of them. This infusion has dependably been thought to be an existence sparing infusion which will diminish the rate of setback on the planet. Additionally it will help in securing dread from rhesus negative ladies over their kids.

Refrences

=Hemolytic disease of the new born
=Rhogam shot during pregnancy
=Coombs antibody test
=Why foetus is not a parasite

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Excellent write up. Easy to understand. It’s true that rhesus iso immunization can be prevented with the rigorous injection of rhogum during events which could lead to the mixture of feto-maternal blood. It’s very important to screen the mother’s blood group/rhesus during antenatal booking and if it’s negative, the father’s blood should be checked too.

It is always good to check for rhesus before pregnancy, so as to avoid still birth. Thanks for coming around

Interesting topic. I have never thought along the line that a mother's antibody mechanism may see a baby as a foreign body

There is always secretion of antibody against the child if the mother is rhesus negative,that is why they requires rhogam injection to prevent such problem. Thanks for coming around.

That is an interesting piece of information. Thank you.



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