Late vitamin K deficiency bleeding: 16 cases reviewed

Abstract

In this study, clinical and demographic features of 16 cases with late vitamin K deficiency bleeding are presented. Ages of infants were between 30 and 130 days. Their delivery histories were uneventful, and family histories for bleeding disorders were negative. All parents except one were unaware of whether their children received vitamin K at birth or not. All cases did not have any underlying illness to explain the abnormal coagulation profile. The common presenting finding was pallor (62.5%). Intracranial haemorrhage was the most common bleeding site (37.5%), and two patients (12.5%) died because of it. Late vitamin K deficiency bleeding is still an important handicap in infants. Parents and healthcare providers should be informed about the importance of vitamin K prophylaxis to prevent vitamin K deficiency in infants.