Hemorrhagic disease of the newborn is attributed to the deficiency of

• Vitamin K is produced by our gut flora. The gut of a New-born baby is sterile and hence no vitamin K is being produced. Moreover vitamin k is negligible in breast milk. In lieu of these factors all babies are susceptible to development of Hemorrhagic disease of New-born. • To prevent this from happening therefore, as standard operating procedure in all hospitals injection vitamin K 1 : 1 mg intramuscular is given to prevent hemorrhagic disease of new born referred to as H.D.N. • In our country where a large number of children are born via home deliveries, no vitamin K would be given to the child and therefore the child may be brought to the hospital on day 5 with umbilical stump bleeding. • For management: the child should be given injection vitamin K lmg intravenously. If bleeding is still present then FFP needs to be administered. Previous Year Questions on Topic: Bleeding Disorders in Children • Type of vitamin K used for treatment of H.D.N= vitamin K1 • Umbilical stump bleeding in child on day 1 of life= factor 13 deficiency • Umbilical stump bleeding in child on day 5 of life= H.D.N • Male baby with excessive circumcision bleeding= hemophilia A • Vaginal bleeding in a girl child on day 5 of life= No intervention required