Guidelines for Vitamin K Prophylaxis

The success of vitamin K prophylaxis has been so dramatic that many practitioners have never seen an infant afflicted with "Hemorrhagic Disease of the Newborn," now known as "Vitamin K Deficient Bleeding." It is a popular trend in some areas to refuse prophylaxis in an effort to keep things "natural" for the infant, however, it is important to keep in mind that the infants most at risk for the classic form of the disease are healthy babies who are exclusively breastfed.

Background

Problem

Definitions / Presentation / Diagnosis / Treatment

Definitions

Presentation

Items in italics are most common form of initial presentation.