Vitamin K is something that the human body needs in order to create blood clots and stop bleeding. Vitamin K comes from the food that you consume, and some of it is also made by bacteria in the intestines. Vitamin K deficiency can cause babies to have uncontrolled bleeding due to a lack of vitamin K. Babies are born with a small amount of vitamin K in their bodies, but it requires supplementation to rise to healthy levels.
Bleeding in babies with vitamin K deficiency can happen inside or outside of the body. It can be hard to detect this problem in babies that are bleeding internally. This condition is very rare in adults since adults can eat solid foods and thereby get enough vitamin k in their diet.
There are various types of presentation of vitamin K deficiency in babies. The symptoms of the different types are similar but can vary in severity.
Early onset
This version of vitamin K deficiency happens within the first 24 hours after birth. It is very severe and is often characterised by severe bruising, internal bleeding, and other complications for the organs.
Classical
This is the most common form of vitamin k deficiency in babies, and it happens from 2 days to 1 week after birth. These babies will experience severe bruising and often bleed from the umbilical cord.
Late-Onset
This version of vitamin K deficiency happens within a week to 6 months after birth. These babies often have bleeding within the brain and might have bruising as well. Warning bleeds for this version of the condition are not common, and many infants present with neurological or other symptoms that eventually lead to a diagnosis of vitamin K deficiency.
In adults, vitamin K deficiency will show some of the same symptoms without the severity that new-born cases typically present. Adults might be tired all the time, have bruises they cannot explain, or they could also struggle for wounds on the skin to clot.
Babies are at higher risk for vitamin K deficiency because they are not born with enough vitamin K in their bodies to prevent severe bleeding. All babies that are younger than 6 months of age could be at risk for this condition. This is when children start to eat regular foods and have access to a more reliable source of vitamin K in their diet. Breast milk only contains low amounts of vitamin K and the bacteria that make vitamin k will not be present in a new-born’s intestines, leading to the risk of this condition.
The risk factors for vitamin K deficiency in babies are:
Adults typically only have vitamin K deficiency if they have cystic fibrosis, celiac disease, or they have an intestinal or liver conditions that prevent the synthesis and absorption of vitamin K in the body. Some medications can also interfere with the body’s ability to make vitamin K.
Diagnosis of this condition is often made partially through a physical exam. Your doctor will look for bruising on your baby’s face and head, very pale skin colour, pale gums, bleeding from the umbilical cord, yellowing of the whites of the eyes, and blood in the stool. Some babies might present with irritability, seizures, excessive sleepiness, or flu-like symptoms, which can be linked to vitamin K deficiency.
In adults, vitamin K deficiency might appear like anaemia, so blood tests and other tests might be needed to correctly identify the condition. Doctors will usually look for vitamin K deficiency early in the diagnosis process for adults if they have celiac disease, cystic fibrosis, or intestinal disorders. Otherwise, a doctor might have to rule out other conditions before testing for vitamin K deficiency.
A blood coagulation test called prothrombin time can be used to help identify vitamin K deficiency in adults and infants. Blood should clot within 11-13.5 seconds, but if it takes longer than this for the blood to clot, the person likely has a vitamin K deficiency.
Prevention of this condition is relatively simple as all new-borns should get a vitamin K shot at birth. This is the most effective way to prevent this condition in babies. In adults, eating a well-rounded diet and making sure that you seek medical advice if you have celiac disease, cystic fibrosis, or an intestinal health issue can help prevent this deficiency.
Treatment of vitamin K deficiency can be done with an oral supplement, or it can be given as a shot. The dosage will depend upon the age and the weight of the patient and sometimes a repeat dose might be required 12 hours after the original dose is given. Doctors will ask if the patient is taking anticoagulants as this treatment can interfere with the action of these other medications.