Assignment

1. It can be suspected that the bleeding was due to a late-onset vitamin K deficiency in the given
scenario above.
2. Almost all newborns, who are expected to have reduced blood coagulation ability, are usually
given Vitamin K intramuscularly through their lateral anterior thigh. This Vitamin K is a cofactor
that enables the activation of various coagulation factors such as factor II (prothrombin), factor
VII (proconvertin), factor IX (plasma thromboplastin component), factor X (Stuart-Prower factor),
and protein C and S. In infants, deficiency of vitamin K can lead to vitamin K Deficiency Bleeding
or otherwise known as VKDB.

3. We commonly get Vitamin K in leafy green vegetables, eggs, dairy, and meat. It also is being
synthesized in small amounts by our intestinal bacteria.

The advantages of this vitamin are the following:

1.Prevents intracranial bleeding: During pregnancy and even breastfeeding, infants do not receive
enough vitamin K from their mothers. VKDB damage in the infant's brain can be reduced with a vitamin K
shot.
2. Prevent liver disorder: A lack of vitamin K impairs the liver's capacity to stimulate blood clotting. Giving
Vitamin K injections to infants can help avoid bleeding caused by liver disorders that are not diagnosed
early
3. Prevent death: Infants exposed to alcohol, drugs, or anti-epileptic medications from the mother are at
high risk of brain damage or death, and giving them vitamin K will prevent the tragic intracranial
bleeding.

4. Prevent gallbladder problems: Vitamin K prevents gallbladder problem in babies. Babies who have not
received the injection and the mothers not given any vitamin K supplement are at risk of gallbladder
problems.
5. Prevent hemorrhagic disease: Although a rare condition, Vitamin K prophylaxis prevents a
hemorrhagic condition which can occur some days or weeks after the baby is born.
6. Provides vitamin K components: A shot of vitamin K provide the infant with enough K vitamins until
they obtain enough vitamin K nutrients from food.
7. Promote blood clotting: Vitamin k helps the blood to clot and in bone metabolism. Low levels of it can
cause deficiency which results in intestinal or brain bleeding.

8. Increase breast milk: Giving Vitamin K supplements to the nursing mother can increase breast milk and
provide safer means of supplying vitamin K to the infant through breast milk.

9. Heart health: Vitamin K will enable the baby’s to pump blood freely to the body and reduce the
likelihood of heart disease.

10. Prevent serious diseases: Giving the baby vitamin K is a simple way of protecting the baby from any
serious disease and improve the health of the baby.

For the disadvantages:

1. Infections: The newborns are at a risk of infections from the injections given to them. These infections
can lead to skin diseases like scleroderma.

2. Cause death: In severe reactions, Vitamin K Deficiency Bleeding can cause death to newborns due to
brain bleeding.

3. Permanent brain damage: Low levels of vitamins k in the infant can cause severe brain bleeding which
can significantly lead to brain damage. Unnaturally, high levels of vitamin K from supplemented formulas
lead to permanent brain damage.

4. Cause cancer: High levels of vitamin K can lead to cancer due to the high rapid rate of cell division
during fetal development.

5. Leukemia: Large-dose injection of Vitamin K to babies exposed to alcohol or drugs could result in high
risk of developing leukemia at childhood.

6. Irritation and pain: The baby can have bruising, irritation or redness in the area injected. The baby can
feel pain after the injection.

Marchili, Maria Rosaria, et al. “Vitamin K Deficiency: a Case Report and Review of Current Guidelines.”
Italian Journal of Pediatrics, BioMed Central, 14 Mar. 2018,
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5853086/.