Final answer:
A child with a hemolytic disorder such as thalassemia often has an increase in indirect bilirubin due to excessive breakdown of red blood cells that exceeds the liver's capacity to conjugate the bilirubin.
Step-by-step explanation:
A jaundiced male child with a hemolytic disorder, such as thalassemia which is characterized by the abnormal synthesis of globin proteins and excessive destruction of erythrocytes, will likely exhibit an increase in indirect bilirubin. In cases of hemolytic jaundice, excessive hemolysis leads to the increased production of bile pigments. The liver may not be able to process all of the unconjugated bilirubin produced, leading to its accumulation in the blood. This unconjugated bilirubin is also referred to as indirect bilirubin, which gives a purple-red color upon application of the indirect Van Den Bergh test.
Unconjugated hyperbilirubinemia can also pose risks particularly in infants due to the underdeveloped UDP glucuronyl transferase activity, leading to the accumulation of unconjugated bilirubin in the blood, potentially causing severe neurological damage if levels are high enough. Moreover, pathologies such as the Coombs' test can link hemolytic conditions to the presence of antibodies that cause the destruction of red blood cells resulting in increased levels of bilirubin and consequent jaundice.