VITAMIN K DEFICIENCY BLEEDING: A CASE SERIES

Abstract

Vitamin K deficiency bleeding (formerly known as hemorrhagic disease of nerwborn) is a rare condition where infant developed a bleeding disorder due to inadequate level of vitamin K in their body. This condition is rarely encountered nowadays given the fact that prophylactic vitamin K would be given to all the newborns in all hospital deliveries of Malaysia. According to the Malaysia guideline, vitamin K injection is required to be administered at birth. However, there are still occurrence of such cases especially in the rural area of East Malaysia where unregistered, home delivery is common. On top of that, other factors such as geography, social and financial status also play a role in contributing to the occurrence. Vitamin K deficiency bleeding in infant can be divided into early, classical, and late depending on the time of presentation. Medical officers working in this area of the country should be aware of this condition at the back of their mind if a bleeding infant is brought to them. Education should also be given to parents-to-be regarding the importance of hospital delivery and vitamin K injection to prevent this disastrous condition and hence the neonatal mortality rate in the country.