Final answer:
Hemolytic disease of the newborn (HDN) occurs due to Rh incompatibility between an Rh-negative mother and an Rh-positive fetus. The treatment involves administering Rh immune globulin (RhoGAM) to the mother during pregnancy and after childbirth to prevent the formation of antibodies against the fetus's red blood cells.
Step-by-step explanation:
The condition caused by Rh incompatibility is known as hemolytic disease of the newborn (HDN), often referred to as erythroblastosis fetalis. This condition occurs when an Rh-negative mother has developed antibodies against Rh-positive red blood cells, which can cross the placenta and attack the red blood cells of an Rh-positive fetus. The standard treatment for preventing HDN is the administration of Rh immune globulin, such as RhoGAM, which is given during the 28th week of pregnancy and within 72 hours after childbirth, as well as after any event that might cause mixing of maternal and fetal blood.