Resurgimiento de enfermedad hemorrógica del recién nacido. Implicaciones para su prevención / Re-emergence of hemorrhagic disease in newborns. Implications for its prevention

RESUMEN

OBJECTIVE: To describe the occurrence of hemorrhagic disease of the newborn (HDN) at a tertiary care pediatric hospital of Morelos state. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A retrospective case series study was conducted between 1997-2000 at Hospital del Niño Morelense (Morelos State Children's Hospital), in 46 newborns aged under 12 weeks. Study subjects were referred from peripheral units with a diagnosis of HDN. RESULTS: The severe late-onset form of HDN was present in 91 of the cases. Fifty-two percent of childbirths were assisted by a physician and 48 by an empiric midwife. Application of vitamin K was unknown in 61 of cases, in 39 it was not applied and in 4 it was applied. The majority of infants presented severe symptoms due to intra-cranial bleeding, 11 died, and 41 had severe disease sequelae. CONCLUSIONS: Given the high prevalence of HDN in the State of Morelos, reproductive health programs should be reviewed and training programs intensified to promote the utilization of vitamin K by physicians and nurses for preventing this disease.