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Breastfeeding

Vitamin K deficiency bleeding in an infant despite adequate prophylaxis

Written by CYBERMED LIFE NEWS
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Abstract Title:

[Vitamin K deficiency bleeding in an infant despite adequate prophylaxis].

Abstract Source:

Ned Tijdschr Geneeskd. 2003 Apr 19 ;147(16):737-40. PMID: 12731461

Abstract Author(s):

P M van Hasselt, R H J Houwen, A T H van Dijk, T J de Koning

Article Affiliation:

P M van Hasselt

Abstract:

Vitamin K deficiency in infants can cause life-threatening haemorrhages. To prevent this, neonates in the Netherlands receive an oral dose of 1 mg vitamin K directly after birth. In addition, because breast milk contains little vitamin K, breast-fed infants receive a daily dose of 25 micrograms the first three months. Of three female infants aged 4 weeks, 5 months and 3 months, respectively, two developed an intracranial haemorrhage, which caused death in one. In two cases there were signs of a bleeding tendency, but no tests were done because the patients appeared healthy otherwise. The underlying resorptive disorders, cholestasis and fat malabsorption, caused few symptoms and were discovered only after a vitamin K deficiency bleeding had occurred. In an infant with a bleeding tendency, one should consider the possibility of vitamin K deficiency, even if adequate prophylaxis has been given.


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