A 41-year-old member asked:
Why do infants need vitamin k?
1 doctor answer • 1 doctor weighed in
Dr. James Fergusonanswered
Pediatrics 47 years experience
Proper clotting: Vitamin k is required for the proper function of our clotting system. Failure to give newborns vitamin K ,makes them at risk of spontaneous hemorrhage. The most worrisome would be into the brain (birth trauma) or with any surgical procedure. A single IM dose can protect baby until their body can generate the needed K from their diet.Gut germs convert the dietary K to an active form.
3.3k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
Last updated Jan 16, 2015
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