Vitamin K deficiency mimicking child abuse

Area of Science:

• Pediatrics
• Neonatology
• Hematology

Background:

• Infants require supplemental vitamin K for proper hemostasis.
• Infants born outside a clinical setting may not receive prophylactic vitamin K.
• Vitamin K deficiency can lead to severe bleeding complications in newborns.

Observation:

• A home-born infant presented with intracranial bleeding.
• Clinical signs and symptoms suggested potential child abuse.
• The infant's presentation mimicked non-accidental trauma.

Findings:

• Further investigations confirmed Vitamin K deficiency as the cause of bleeding.
• The infant's intracranial hemorrhage was directly linked to vitamin K deficiency.
• Diagnosis was established despite initial suspicion of child abuse.

Implications:

• Clinicians must consider Vitamin K deficiency in infants with intracranial bleeding, especially those born outside hospitals.
• Vitamin K deficiency should be a key differential diagnosis alongside child abuse in infants with unexplained bleeding.
• Timely diagnosis and treatment of Vitamin K deficiency are critical to prevent severe outcomes.