The clinical picture of the disease is non-specific. Bruising is common, spontaneous haemorrhage is rare and surgical bleeding is increased. Features linked to the stages of Vitamin K deficiency bleeding (VKDB) include: (1)
Presents with bleeding at sites related to the trauma of birth, such as the scalp monitor site and cephalhaematomas following a ventouse delivery.
Typically presents as bleeding from organs, such as the gut, skin or mucous membranes and also bleeding from the umbilical stump.
Peaks at 3-8 weeks old and typically presents with intracranial haemorrhage and is often caused by undiagnosed cholestasis with resultant malabsorption of vitamin K.6. Late VKDB causes the greatest risk of death due to sudden bleeding into the central nervous system. (2)
References
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