Vitamin K at Birth

Although the US Department of Health has recommended vitamin K supplementation at birth since 1961, the incidence of infant hemorrhage is rising as the number of parents who refuse vitamin K rises. This issue is addressed in a June 18, 2014 St. Louis Post-Dispatch article and is documented in Schulte R, Jordan LC, Morad A, Naftel RP, Wellons JC 3rd, Sidonio R. Rise in late onset vitamin K deficiency bleeding in young infants because of omission or refusal of prophylaxis at birth. Pediatr Neurol. 2014;50:564–8. available online from Elsevier.