Hemorrhagic disease of the newborn is a pathology characterized by the appearance of spontaneous bleeding and due to the insufficiency or absence of some elements of blood coagulation. This disease manifests itself, as a rule, from the second to fifth birthday of the child.
Causes
Hemorrhagic disease of the newborn has two types: primary and secondary. In the first case, the cause of bleeding is an insufficient amount of vitamin K in the blood of a person. It is he who is considered the "main responsible" for the process of its coagulation. The second form of the disease occurs in premature or very weak babies. In this case, in addition to the lack of vitamin K, the baby’s liver works poorly.
According to many doctors, hemorrhagic disease of newborns can be directly related to the adoption of certain drugs of the pregnant woman, which negatively affected the work of the liver of the child. Such drugs include the popular aspirin, various antibiotics, anticonvulsants, and some sedatives.
Signs
Hemorrhagic disease of the newborn is manifested by the following symptoms:
- blood from the nose;
- GI bleeding
- vomiting with blood discharge;
- navel bleeding;
- the appearance of hematomas of a different nature;
- hemorrhage of internal organs (in the adrenal glands, liver, etc.).
How is this disease detected?
The diagnosis is based on visible clinical data, test results and hematological studies. The latter include:
- platelet count;
- identification of the combined activity of factors II and VI;
- blood smear;
- performance of a special thrombotest;
- detection of hemoglobin in the blood.
Hemorrhagic disease of the newborn: late form
In some cases, this pathology can occur only 2-3 weeks after the appearance of the baby. Often, newborns who are breast-fed and have problems with metabolic disorders are exposed to this.
Treatment of this pathology
Therapy for this disease is as follows:
- the baby needs to do 3 days intramuscular injection of a solution of vicasol (1%) - approximately 0.3-0.5 ml 2 times a day;
- taking medications that help strengthen blood vessels - ascorbic acid, rutin, calcium chloride;
- with heavy bleeding, transfusion of blood, plasma or a special drug is prescribed;
- taking substitution and symptomatic agents;
- oxygen therapy.
Prevention of this disease
To prevent the development of hemorrhagic disease, absolutely all women should be prescribed vitamin K during childbirth. If childbirth is difficult, then add a dose 12 hours after the onset of labor. A newborn also needs to be prescribed this vitamin, without waiting for the appearance of signs of the disease.
Viral hemorrhagic disease
This is a type of pneumonia. This type of disease is characteristic of rabbits.