Effect of prophylactic dose of vitamin K on occurrence of hemorrhagic disease in newborn

ABSTRACT

To determine the effect of prophylactic dose of Vitamin K on occurrence of hemorrhagic disease in newborn. Non randomized controlled study was conducted in Children Hospital Quetta during June to December 2009. Total 300 healthy full term neonates between 2[nd] to 7[th] days of life were included in the study. They are divided into 2 groups; group 1 consisted of 100 neonates who were given prophylactic dose of vit K in a dose of 1.0mg intramuscularly and group 2 consisted of 200 neonates who did not receive prophylactic dose of Vit K as their parents did not agree. They were followed up till 12 weeks of life, for development of bleeding from any site. There are 3 types of Hemorrhagic disease of newborn according to age of manifestation. In early onset bleeding occurred within 24 hours of life, in classical onset bleeding occurred from 2[nd] to 7[th] days of life and in late onset bleeding occurred during 2[nd] to 12[th] week of life. In group 1 only 2 neonates [2%], out of 100 presented with late onset of hemorrhagic disease of newborn, one [50%] with gastrointestinal tract bleeding and other [50%] with subcutaneous bleeding. In group 2, out of 200neonates 14[7%] developed bleeding, 9 [64.3%] presented with classical onset and 5 [35.7%] with late onset. Commonest clinical manifestation in group 2 was gastrointestinal tract bleeding [28.8%], 2nd common manifestation was haematuria [21.4%] and umbilical cord bleeding [21.4%], followed by prolonged bleeding after circumcision [14.2%] and subcutaneous [14.2%]. Male to female ratio was 1.31