Vitamin K deficiency bleeding and early infant male circumcision in Africa.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Early infant (1-60 days of life) male circumcision is being trialed in Africa as a human immunodeficiency virus prevention strategy. Postcircumcision bleeding is particularly concerning where most infants are breastfed, and thus these infants are at increased risk of vitamin K deficiency bleeding.

Case

During a circumcision trial, one infant bled for 90 minutes postprocedure. After discovering he had not received standard prophylactic vitamin K, we gave 2 mg phytomenadione (vitamin K1) intramuscularly; bleeding stopped within 30 minutes.

Conclusion

Vitamin K's extremely rapid action is not commonly appreciated. Neonatal vitamin K has been shown to be cost-effective. To increase availability and promote awareness of its importance, especially in low-resource

SUBMITTER: Plank RM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3773869 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature