By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Accept
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
  • Health
    • Mental Health
    Health
    Healthcare organizations are operating on slimmer profit margins than ever. One report in August showed that they are even lower than the beginning of the…
    Show More
    Top News
    benefits of using protein powder to build muscles
    Protein Powder for Muscle Mass: Everything You Need to Know
    December 12, 2021
    changes brought on by blockchain in healthcare
    Technology In The Healthcare Industry
    March 28, 2022
    What Does Core Body Temperature Say About Health?
    August 17, 2022
    Latest News
    Grounded Healing: A Natural Ally for Sustainable Healthcare Systems
    May 16, 2025
    Learn how to Renew your Medical Card in West Virginia
    May 16, 2025
    Choosing the Right Supplement Manufacturer for Your Brand
    May 1, 2025
    Engineering Temporary Hospitals for Extreme Weather
    April 24, 2025
  • Policy and Law
    • Global Healthcare
    • Medical Ethics
    Policy and Law
    Get the latest updates about Insurance policies and Laws in the Healthcare industry for different geographical locations.
    Show More
    Top News
    FDA Approves Diabetes Pill
    May 2, 2011
    Patient Gets Drunk on Hand Sanitizer
    June 20, 2011
    Cultivating Health Improvement
    July 20, 2011
    Latest News
    Building Smarter Care Teams: Aligning Roles, Structure, and Clinical Expertise
    May 18, 2025
    The Critical Role of Healthcare in Personal Injury Recovery: A Comprehensive Guide for Victims
    May 14, 2025
    The Backbone of Successful Trials: Clinical Data Management
    April 28, 2025
    Advancing Your Healthcare Career through Education and Specialization
    April 16, 2025
  • Medical Innovations
  • News
  • Wellness
  • Tech
Search
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Reading: CDC Investigates 4 Infants with Vitamin K Deficiency, Internal Bleeding
Share
Notification Show More
Font ResizerAa
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
Font ResizerAa
Search
Follow US
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Health Works Collective > News > CDC Investigates 4 Infants with Vitamin K Deficiency, Internal Bleeding
NewsSpecialties

CDC Investigates 4 Infants with Vitamin K Deficiency, Internal Bleeding

Susan Scutti
Last updated: November 16, 2013 9:00 am
Susan Scutti
Share
5 Min Read
vitamin k deficiency
SHARE

vitamin k deficiencyFour infants were diagnosed with late vitamin K deficiency bleeding in Nashville, Tenn. between Feb. and Sept., the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported this week.

vitamin k deficiencyFour infants were diagnosed with late vitamin K deficiency bleeding in Nashville, Tenn. between Feb. and Sept., the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported this week. All of the babies in this cluster had been healthy and developing normally until reaching the age of six to 15 weeks. Then, each baby suddenly began to bleed internally — three had intracranial hemorrhage, while the fourth had gastrointestinal bleeding. The twin of one baby was confirmed as having an asymptomatic case of the same bleeding disorder.

In response, the Tennessee Department of Health initiated an investigation while requesting assistance from the CDC. The cause, or at least the risk factor, for this cluster incidence appears to be in view; the parents had declined the usual vitamin K shot for their babies.

What is VKDB?

Vitamin K deficiency bleeding (VKDB) is a rare bleeding disorder that occurs in early infancy. Although it is potentially life-threatening, VKDB is easily prevented by administering small doses of vitamin K at birth. Vitamin K is known as the “clotting vitamin” because blood would not clot without it. In adults, vitamin K is absorbed from food, and is synthesized by gut bacteria. Because this vitamin does not easily transfer through the placenta, stores within an infant’s body are low at birth. Also, human breast milk does not contain high enough quantities of the vitamin, placing infants at risk for VKDB. Doctors typically classify the disorder as early, classic, and late, according to when a baby develops symptoms.

In the U.S., an intramuscular shot of vitamin K at birth has been standard practice since 1961. This practice is also standard in most Western countries. Without this prophylaxis, incidence of early and classical VKDB amounts to about 1.7 percent of births. But the relative risk for developing late VKDB is estimated to be 81 times greater among infants who do not receive the shot when compared to infants who do.

Reviewing state records, public health officials found no confirmed cases of late vitamin K deficiency bleeding among the 493,259 live births that occurred in Tenn. during the years 2007 to 2012. They also reviewed records of a random sample of infants born at three Nashville area hospitals and four major nonhospital birthing centers. At one Nashville hospital, 3.4 percent of 3,080 infants discharged from the newborn nursery went without a vitamin K injection. By contrast, 28.0 percent of 218 neonates at birthing centers did not receive vitamin K. Might similar statistics be found across the nation?

Parental Concerns

Parents of the four infants with VKDB were asked: Why did you decline a vitamin K shot for your newborn?

Their reasons included concern about an increased risk for leukemia, an impression that the shot was unnecessary, and a desire to minimize the baby’s exposure to toxins. A 1992 report linked vitamin K injections with childhood cancer, yet these findings have never been replicated in other studies. Some believe the findings cannot be entirely disproved either, and for this and other reasons some doctors advocate oral administration of Vitamin K for infants. The real issue here is that concerns persist and led these parents to act as they did.

All four infants survived and one — the infant with gastrointestinal bleeding — recovered fully. The future may not be so bright for the three who had intracranial hemorrhage. Monitored by neurologists, one has already developed a gross motor deficit. Although everyone hopes the other infants are in the clear, they are under the age of 12 months so it may be that the impact of hemorrhage has not yet been felt.

Public health officials in Tenn. determined that some of the parents learned about VKDB only after their infants developed the condition. There are so many issues and concerns a parent must face in the earliest days of birth. The reasons behind giving an infant supplemental Vitamin K must be made more clear before the whirlwind moments following birth so that parents can make an informed choice.

(photo: shutterstock)

TAGGED:CDC
Share This Article
Facebook Copy Link Print
Share

Stay Connected

1.5kFollowersLike
4.5kFollowersFollow
2.8kFollowersPin
136kSubscribersSubscribe

Latest News

Do You Grind Your Teeth at Night? Here’s How Night Guards and TMJ Treatments Can Help
Do You Grind Your Teeth at Night? Here’s How Night Guards and TMJ Treatments Can Help
Dental health
May 21, 2025
The Secret To A Confident Smile: Top Tips For Better Teeth
The Secret To A Confident Smile: Top Tips For Better Teeth
Dental health
May 21, 2025
Clinical Expertise
Building Smarter Care Teams: Aligning Roles, Structure, and Clinical Expertise
Health care
May 18, 2025
Grounded Healing: A Natural Ally for Sustainable Healthcare Systems
Grounded Healing: A Natural Ally for Sustainable Healthcare Systems
Health
May 15, 2025

You Might also Like

Developing a Diabetes Management Service

June 20, 2012

How Physician Offices Can Improve Patient Health Care

March 31, 2016

Study on How “Jail Breaker” Cancer Cells Escape Tumors and Spread Through the Body

April 29, 2013

Text Messaging Helping to Keep People Healthy

May 1, 2012
Subscribe
Subscribe to our newsletter to get our newest articles instantly!
Follow US
© 2008-2025 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Username or Email Address
Password

Lost your password?