Late hemorrhagic disease of newborn [HDN]

ABSTRACT

To assess the clinical profile and risk factors of patients with late hemorrhagic disease of newborn. The study was conducted at the Department of Pediatric, Bahawal Victoria Hospital, Bahawalpur from June 2004 to May 2006 and Sheikh Zayed Hospital Rahim Yar Khan from June 2006 to May 2007. All the infants above the age of 7 days admitted in Pediatric unit with vitamin-K deficiency bleeding were evaluated. Thirty two infants the criteria of late HDN; 24 [75%] were male and 8 [25%] female. Majority of the babies i.e. 24 [75%] were in the age group 4 to 12 weeks. All were born at term and were on exclusive breastfeeding. The place of delivery was home in 18 [56%] while the remaining 14 [44%] were born in hospital/private clinics. Prophylactic vitamin-K was not given to any of the infants at birth or later. Majority of the infants 24 [75%] presented with neurological features, Intracranial hemorrhage is the commonest presentation of late HDN carrying significant morbidity and subsequent mortality. As there is ample evidence that late hemorrhagic disease of the newborn is prevalent because of lack of vitamin-K prophylaxis at birth hence prophylactic vitamin-K administration at birth is a deadly desirable intervention to avoid this potentially preventable life threatening condition