Infant bleeding rises as parents reject vitamin K shots
The gist
Two US studies found vitamin K deficiency bleeding rose 347% since 2017 as parents declined newborn shots.
The bleeding is rare but can be life-threatening, and researchers say causation is unproven.
How it unfolded
- 1961Vitamin K shots at birth become the standard of care, recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics.
- 20173.1% of newborns go without a vitamin K shot, the starting point for the JAMA Pediatrics study period.
- 2024More than 5% of US babies miss the shot, a 77% increase since 2017, per a JAMA study published last December.
Key terms
- intramuscular
- Injection of a substance directly into a muscle.
- CDC
- The national public health agency of the United States.
Source: Wikipedia