Blood transfusion is a medical procedure that involves the transfer of blood or blood products from one person to another. While the procedure is often necessary to save a life, it's not without risks. One of the most significant risks associated with blood transfusion is ABO incompatibility reaction.
ABO incompatibility reaction occurs when a person receives blood or blood products that are incompatible with their blood type. The four blood types are A, B, AB, and O. Each of these blood types has a different antigen on the surface of the red blood cells. If a person receives blood that has an antigen that their body doesn't recognize, their immune system will attack the new blood cells, resulting in an ABO incompatibility reaction.
The symptoms of ABO incompatibility reaction can range from mild to severe. Mild symptoms include fever, chills, and itching. Severe symptoms include kidney failure, shock, and even death. It's essential to note that not everyone will experience symptoms of ABO incompatibility reaction.
To prevent ABO incompatibility reaction, healthcare providers perform blood typing and cross-matching before transfusing blood or blood products. Blood typing involves determining a person's blood type, while cross-matching involves testing the compatibility of the donor's blood with the recipient's blood.
If ABO incompatibility reaction does occur, healthcare providers will treat the symptoms based on their severity. Treatment may include medication to manage fever, pain, or inflammation. In severe cases, the person may require supportive care, such as oxygen therapy or dialysis.
ABO incompatibility reaction is a severe complication that can occur after blood transfusion. To minimize the risk of ABO incompatibility reaction, healthcare providers perform blood typing and cross-matching before transfusing blood or blood products. If ABO incompatibility reaction occurs, prompt treatment can help manage the symptoms and prevent serious complications.