All issues > Volume 29(6); 1986

Original Article

J Korean Pediatr Soc. 1986;29(6):679-683. Published online June 30, 1986.

Late Hemorrhagic Disease of Infancy.

Kwang Wook Ahn¹, Chull Zoo Jung¹, Hyo Seop Ju¹, Seung Woo Moon¹

¹Department of Pediatrics, Dong Kang Hospital, Ulsan, Korea

Abstract

Late hemorrhagic disease of infant is a hemorrhagic disease due to prothrombin complex deficiency from 1 week to 1 year of age. It is hypothesized that the bleeding occurring may have resulted from the simultaneous occurrence of two or three of the following factors: (1) interference with the intestinal production of vit K as a result of Antibiotic Agents, (2) interference with absorption of vit K as a result of diarrhea, and (3) a diet low in vit K content. This disease is different from the hemorrhagic disease of the newborn. The main differences are that it is found in an older age group and that intracranial hemorrhages are frequent. Initial laboratory findings show prolonged PT and PTT with normal platelet count in all cases. After vit K administration, PT and PTT become nomal within 24 hours. We have experienced 3 cases of late hemorrhagic disease of infant at 6 weeks of age and reviewed the pertinent literatures brief.

Keywords :Hemorrhagic disease; Infancy; Vitamin K.