Vitamin K deficiency mimicking child abuse

Abstract

Supplemental vitamin K is required for normal hemostasis in infancy. Infants born outside the hospital may not receive prophylactic vitamin K. They may suffer from bleeding into various tissues and are likely to present to the emergency department. This report describes an infant born at home who presented with intracranial bleeding and signs and symptoms consistent with child abuse. Further investigations confirmed the diagnosis of Vitamin K deficiency. Although it is important to consider child abuse when the history and examination are consistent with the diagnosis, it is equally important to consider other potential diagnoses including Vitamin K deficiency.