Pediatria pre prax 1/2011

Prevention of vitamin K deficiency bleeding in newborns and young infants

The article presents a current view of the options and methods of prevention of vitamin K deficiency bleeding in newborns. Major changes include shorter prophylaxis time, more accurately defined benefits and drawbacks of parenteral and oral vitamin K administration and the need for a certain caution when administering inappropriate doses of the vitamin in newborns with low and very low birth weight.

Keywords: haemorrhagic disease of the newborn, vitamin K, vitamin K supplementation, prevention of vitamin K deficiency bleeding, vitamin K1, newborn, premature newborn.