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Hemorrhagic disease of the newborn

What is Hemorrhagic disease of the newborn ?

it is the disease of vit k deficiency in newborn which affects the coagulation factors (2,7,9,10) and in turn leads to hemorrhage .

it presents by bleeding from the umbilicus,GIT,even intracranial hemorrhage between 2-7 days after birth.

it is the most common cause of bleeding in noenates.

Causes:

  • Low vit k stores in the liver
  • low vit k in breast milk
  • sterile gut(bacterial flora still absent

Investigations:

  • Prolonged prothrombin time and partial thromboplastin time
  • normal bleeding time and platelets count

Prevention 

1mg vit k Im or SC at birth

Treatment

  • 2-5 mg vit k
  • fresh frozen plasma transfusion
  • fresh blood transfusion if there is massive blood loss

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