Symptoms:

Symptoms depend on the severity of the condition. Mild forms may cause:

• Liver swelling
• Change in skin color (pallor)

More severe forms may cause:

• Breathing problems
• Bruising or purplish bruise-like spots on the skin
• Heart failure
• Severe anemia
• Severe jaundice
• Total body swelling

Signs and tests:

An ultrasound done during pregnancy may show:

• High amounts of amniotic fluid
• Abnormally large placenta
• Fluid that leads to swelling in the unborn baby's belly area and organs, including the liver, spleen, heart, or lung area

An amniocentesis and frequent ultrasounds will be done to determine the severity of the condition.

Treatment:

Treatment depends on the cause. During pregnancy, treatment may include:

• Medicine to cause early labor and delivery of the baby
• Early cesarean delivery if condition gets worse
• Giving blood to the baby while still in the womb (intrauterine fetal blood transfusion)

Treatment for a newborn may include:

• Direct transfusion of packed red blood cells (compatible with the infant's blood type) and an exchange transfusion to rid the baby's body of the substances that are destroying the red blood cells
• Using a needle to remove extra fluid from around the lungs and belly area
• Medicines to control heart failure and help the kidneys remove extra fluids
• Methods to help the baby breathe, such as a breathing machine

Expectations (prognosis):

Hydrops fetalis often results in death of the infant shortly before or after delivery. The risk is highest among the most premature babies and those who are severely ill at birth.

Complications:

Brain damage called kernicterus may occur.

Prevention:

Rh incompatibility, which can lead to this condition, can be prevented if the mother takes a medicine called RhoGAM at certain times during and after pregnancy.