TMSS Medical College Journal

Deficiency of Vitamin K remains a significant worldwide cause of neonatal morbidity and mortality. The objective of this case report is to create awareness among people and Doctors about the administration of vitamin K in newborn at early after birth. In this study I have reported a newborn presented with profuse per rectal fresh bleeding, melaena and blood stain vomiting at 3* day of life, The baby improved with fresh blood and vitamin K. Routine prophylactic use of vitamin K should always be used to prevent HDN (“good public health practice). Administration by intramuscular injection (0.5-1.0 mg) within 6 hours of birth is preferable .May be given orally As 3 doses spread over the first 4 weeks of life. A safe, inexpensive preventive procedure that should be mandatory Component of newborns care.

Hemorrhagic diseases of newborn can be defined as vitamin k deficiency related Bleeding. HDN is one of the most frequent bleeding disorders in infancy. Its classified As early, classical and late onset disease according to the time bleeding occurs. Early HDN is diagnosed when the bleeding begins in the first 24 hours of postnatal period. Classical HDN occurs between 2— 5 days | of neonatal period and late onset disease can be seen during infancy. But predominantly at 4-8 weeks of life. Is incidence is 4-25/100000 birth in the western countries bul as high as 25-80/100000 births in eastern countries.’ Late hemorrhagic disease is diagnosed of bleeding occurring afier 7° day of life with normal Platelet count, prolong prothrombin time (PT) and partial throboplastine time (PTT), associated With stopping of bleeding and PT/PTT returning to normal after giving vitamin k.* Vitamin K prophylaxis is recommended for all neonates to prevent hemorrhagic disease of the new bom (HDN).* Bleeding disorders in newly bom infants were first described over 100 years ago. When Townsend reported 50 cases In 1894. Hemorrhagic Disease of newborn (HDN) also | called vitamin K deficiency bleeding (VKDB). VKDB is the name given to the occurrence of spontaneous bleeding in early days of life." Bleeding can occur from birth up to six month of life.’ Incidence of vitamin K deficiency bleeding in babies not receiving vitamin k at birth is 0.25% to 1.7 %.* Vitamin K is essential for normal function of hemostasis.” It is needed for the synthesis of Coagulation factors Il, VII, IX, X." At birth vitamin k dependent factors are reduced to about 50% of normal adult values." The disease is classified according to the age of onset, carly ( first 24 hours), classic (2-7 days of life) and late onset (8days to 6 months of life) disease.” Late onset disease occurs primarily in exclusively breast feed infants and associated with intracranial hemorrhage in about 50 % of the cases.*