Children with cerebral hemorrhage due to vitamin K deficiency

Because it directly affects the blood clotting process, vitamin K deficiency can easily cause babies to bleed in many places such as the skin and digestive organs, and even cause brain hemorrhage.

High risk in newborns

Recently, Children's Hospital 2, Ho Chi Minh City, provided emergency care to a 20-day-old baby boy suffering from a brain hemorrhage. Through tests, doctors said the cause did not originate from brain problems but from a lack of vitamin K.

Despite the doctors’ best efforts to save the baby, unfortunately, the baby did not survive the critical condition. Not long before, a 45-day-old baby girl had the same symptoms, but her family rushed her to the hospital in time and she survived.

Not as dangerous as the two cases above, 1-month-old baby boy Nguyen Thanh N in Tay Ninh was taken to the hospital by his parents with a constant nosebleed. When supplemented with vitamin K, the baby's bleeding completely disappeared. After a period of treatment, the baby was discharged in a normal, healthy condition.

The reason why newborns are at higher risk of vitamin K deficiency is because the intestines have not synthesized the necessary amount of vitamin K, which is mainly transmitted from the mother's body during pregnancy and breastfeeding (through milk). If the mother's body does not supplement enough, the risk of vitamin K deficiency in the baby is even higher.

According to Dr. Nguyen Van Loc, Department of Examination, National Children's Hospital, "Vitamin K vaccination for infants after birth is extremely necessary, because vitamin K is an important and indispensable part of the body's blood clotting process. When the blood vessel wall is damaged, if vitamin K is not supplemented or not supplemented in time, it will cause blood clotting disorders, increasing the risk of bleeding.

Children will have prolonged bleeding in many places such as the umbilical cord, nose, digestive tract, even causing brain hemorrhage. Many cases of children due to lack of vitamin K have too much brain bleeding leading to death. Children who are treated are also left with many sequelae such as quadriplegia or mental illness, affecting thinking ability.

Preventing strokes in children

Prevention of vitamin K deficiency in newborns depends largely on the mother. During pregnancy, the mother should eat a lot of eggs, lean meat (beef, pork), cauliflower, cabbage, etc. These are all foods rich in vitamin K and nutrients. Pregnant women should take vitamin K1 supplements, at least 2-4 weeks and 1 K1 tablet (5mg) before giving birth.

After birth, the baby should be vaccinated with vitamin K1 (1mg) or K3 (2mg). If the baby shows signs of abnormal bleeding, the baby should be taken to a pediatric hospital for a vitamin K injection to prevent complications.

When children show signs of irritation, vomiting, bleeding from the skin, nose, mouth, anus, fever for many hours, they need to be hospitalized immediately.

According to AloBacsi.vn