Intracranial hemorrhage due to late hemorrhagic disease in two siblings

J Emerg Med. 2006 Jul;31(1):49-52. doi: 10.1016/j.jemermed.2005.09.007.

Abstract

Deficiency of vitamin K predisposes to early, classic or late hemorrhagic disease of the newborn (HDN); late HDN may be associated with serious and life-threatening intracranial hemorrhage. Late HDN is characterized by intracranial bleeding in infants aged 1 week to 6 months due to severe vitamin K deficiency, occurring particularly in exclusively breastfed infants. Late HDN is still an important cause of mortality and morbidity in developing countries where vitamin K prophylaxis is not routinely practiced. In this study, we report on two siblings with intracranial bleeding who were fully breastfed without a routine supplementation of vitamin K. Vitamin K should be given to all newborns as a single, intramuscular dose of 1 mg.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Intracranial Hemorrhages / diagnosis*
  • Intracranial Hemorrhages / etiology
  • Intracranial Hemorrhages / therapy
  • Male
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed
  • Vitamin K Deficiency / complications
  • Vitamin K Deficiency / diagnosis*
  • Vitamin K Deficiency / therapy
  • Vitamin K Deficiency Bleeding / diagnosis*
  • Vitamin K Deficiency Bleeding / etiology
  • Vitamin K Deficiency Bleeding / therapy