Which of the following vitamin prevents bleeding disease in newborns?

Appeared in: Maharashtra CHO - 2020

Explanation

Vitamin K is essential for the synthesis of blood clotting factors II, VII, IX, and X in the liver.
Newborns are at high risk for deficiency due to poor placental transfer, a sterile gut that cannot synthesize the vitamin, and low levels in breast milk.
This deficiency can lead to Vitamin K Deficiency Bleeding (VKDB), also known as Hemorrhagic Disease of the Newborn (HDN).
A prophylactic intramuscular injection of Vitamin K (0.5-1 mg) is routinely administered at birth to prevent this potentially life-threatening condition.

Option B: Vitamin D is primarily involved in calcium absorption and bone mineralization.
Option C: Vitamin E is an antioxidant that protects cell membranes from damage.
Option D: Vitamin A is essential for vision, immune function, and epithelial cell growth.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: Knowing The role of vitamins in preventing neonatal diseases, specifically bleeding disorders helps nurses interpret findings accurately and avoid errors in routine assessment, medication administration, and patient teaching.
Routine administration of Vitamin K at birth is a critical public health measure that has dramatically reduced the incidence of life-threatening bleeding in infants.
Nurses play a key role in administering the injection correctly (IM in the vastus lateralis muscle) and educating parents about its importance.
What if a parent refuses the Vitamin K injection? The nurse must explain the significant risk of VKDB, including the potential for intracranial hemorrhage and death, and document the refusal clearly. The healthcare team must then counsel the parents on signs of bleeding to watch for at home.

How to Approach the Question

This is a factual recall question.
Identify the keywords in the stem: 'vitamin', 'prevents', 'bleeding disease', 'newborns'.
The core concept is the prevention of hemorrhage in a newborn.
Recall the primary functions of the vitamins listed in the options.
Vitamin K is directly linked to the synthesis of clotting factors.
Vitamins A, D, and E have other primary roles (vision, bone health, antioxidant).

Concept Tested & Keywords

Concept Tested: The role of vitamins in preventing neonatal diseases, specifically bleeding disorders.
Stem keywords: vitamin, prevents, bleeding disease, newborns
Lead-in keywords: Which

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E6 Ghai Essential Pediatrics(pp 26-904 of 913) p. 108-110

E6 Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics(2024) — Volume 1 p. 527-529

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