Zeitschrift für Geburtshilfe und Neonatologie
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Z Geburtshilfe Neonatol · Oct 2015
Case ReportsLate Vitamin K Deficient Bleeding in 2 Young Infants--Renaissance of a Preventable Disease.
Late vitamin K deficiency bleeding in young infants is a rare disorder which occurs almost exclusively in breast-fed infants who did not receive proper vitamin K prophylaxis at birth and who might additionally suffer from cholestasis. Its impact on morbidity is high since in 50% of the cases it presents with intracranial hemorrhage with a mortality rate of 20% and life-long neurologic sequelae in 30% of the affected infants. ⋯ It is the responsibility of health-care takers to show increased awareness to the growing number of parents refusing vitamin K prophylaxis at birth and educate them properly about the devastating consequences of late vitamin K deficiency bleeding.