Report Broken Link
A consensus statement Vitamin K prophylaxis in the newborn
Fetus and Newborn Committee of the Paediatric Society of New Zealand, New Zealand College of Midwives, New Zealand Nurses Organisation, Royal New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists
01/01/2001
New Zealand College of Midwives Journal
The Fetus and Newborn Committee of the Paediatric Society of New Zealand issued a statement on vitamin K prophylaxis for haemorrhagic disease of the newborn (now preferably called vitamin K deficiency bleeding: VKDB) in 1995. In 1992 a British report had suggested a possible association between intramuscular vitamin K and an increased risk of childhood cancer. By 1995 several large epidemiological studies from North America and Europe had been published, none of which supported such an association. Evidence also suggesting that the alternative route for vitamin K administration was not as successful at preventing the late form of VKDB. The 1995 statement, therefore, recommended that "all newborn infants should have vitamin K prophylaxis and that the preferred route of administration is intramuscular". Since 1995 there has been continuing debate on this issue.
view online article
View Document
childhood cancer, Konakion, vitamin K