Chapter 1: Problem 124
Vitamin K (aquamephyton) is administered to a newborn shortly after birth for which of the following reasons? A. To prevent dehydration B. To treat infection C. To replace electrolytes D. To facilitate clotting
Short Answer
Expert verified
Answer: To facilitate clotting.
Step by step solution
01
Option A: Prevent dehydration
Vitamin K is essential for blood clotting, not for preventing dehydration. So, this option is incorrect.
02
Option B: Treat infection
Vitamin K doesn't have a direct role in treating infections; it is not an antibiotic. Therefore, this option is also incorrect.
03
Option C: Replace electrolytes
Although Vitamin K is essential for various bodily functions, it is not involved in replenishing electrolytes directly. This option is incorrect as well.
04
Option D: Facilitate clotting
Vitamin K is essential for the synthesis of proteins necessary for blood coagulation, which helps in the clotting process. Newborns are at a higher risk of bleeding due to low Vitamin K levels. Administering Vitamin K (aquamephyton) to a newborn after birth helps in preventing a rare but severe bleeding disorder called Vitamin K deficiency bleeding (VKDB). So, the correct answer is Option D: To facilitate clotting.
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Key Concepts
These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.
Vitamin K Administration
When a baby is born, their body undergoes numerous changes as they adapt to life outside the womb. One critical concern in newborn care is the risk of bleeding, due to the fact that babies are born with low levels of Vitamin K, a vital nutrient for blood clotting. Vitamin K administration is therefore a common and crucial practice in the immediate care of a newborn.
Vitamin K plays an essential role in the activation of certain proteins in the body, which are necessary for blood coagulation. Without adequate levels of this vitamin, there is an increased risk for Vitamin K Deficiency Bleeding (VKDB), a condition that can lead to severe bleeding and even brain damage in infants. VKDB is especially threatening because it may not be immediately apparent; symptoms can occur anytime from the first week of life up to several months old.
To prevent this condition, healthcare providers administer a single intramuscular injection of Vitamin K, often known as aquamephyton, to the newborn shortly after birth. This practice has been shown to significantly decrease the incidence of VKDB, thus serving as a valuable preventive measure in newborn care. It is a safe and effective intervention recognized worldwide.
Vitamin K plays an essential role in the activation of certain proteins in the body, which are necessary for blood coagulation. Without adequate levels of this vitamin, there is an increased risk for Vitamin K Deficiency Bleeding (VKDB), a condition that can lead to severe bleeding and even brain damage in infants. VKDB is especially threatening because it may not be immediately apparent; symptoms can occur anytime from the first week of life up to several months old.
To prevent this condition, healthcare providers administer a single intramuscular injection of Vitamin K, often known as aquamephyton, to the newborn shortly after birth. This practice has been shown to significantly decrease the incidence of VKDB, thus serving as a valuable preventive measure in newborn care. It is a safe and effective intervention recognized worldwide.
Newborn Care
The first few hours and days of a newborn's life are filled with various medical assessments and care practices intended to ensure the child's health and well-being. Newborn care is a specialized area of healthcare that involves a series of routine procedures. These procedures include Vitamin K administration, as discussed earlier, as well as other critical practices such as thermal protection, initiation of feeding, umbilical cord care, and vaccinations.
Thermal protection is vital as infants can easily lose body heat. Therefore, maintaining the right temperature through skin-to-skin contact with the mother and proper swaddling is essential. Feeding should be initiated within the first hour of life, with an emphasis on breastfeeding, if possible, due to its various health benefits for both the infant and the mother. The umbilical cord stump is also kept clean and dry until it naturally falls off to prevent infection.
In addition to these practices, newborns are screened for a variety of potential health issues, ensuring that any problems are identified and addressed promptly. All these components of newborn care work together to lay the foundation for a healthy start to life.
Thermal protection is vital as infants can easily lose body heat. Therefore, maintaining the right temperature through skin-to-skin contact with the mother and proper swaddling is essential. Feeding should be initiated within the first hour of life, with an emphasis on breastfeeding, if possible, due to its various health benefits for both the infant and the mother. The umbilical cord stump is also kept clean and dry until it naturally falls off to prevent infection.
In addition to these practices, newborns are screened for a variety of potential health issues, ensuring that any problems are identified and addressed promptly. All these components of newborn care work together to lay the foundation for a healthy start to life.
Blood Clotting
Blood clotting, or coagulation, is a complex process that is crucial for stopping bleeding and facilitating wound healing. When a blood vessel is damaged, the body must quickly respond to seal the break and prevent excessive blood loss. This process involves a series of steps known as the clotting cascade.
The cascade is initiated when platelets, small blood cells, come into contact with a damaged vessel wall. They adhere to the site and release chemicals that attract more platelets, forming a temporary 'platelet plug.' Simultaneously, a variety of clotting factors are activated in a precise sequence. These factors are proteins mostly made in the liver, and many of them require Vitamin K for their synthesis.
Clotting factors such as prothrombin are converted to thrombin, which then transforms fibrinogen into fibrin. Fibrin threads weave through the platelet plug, creating a mesh that solidifies into a stable clot, sealing the wound. This elaborate mechanism highlights the importance of Vitamin K in newborn care, as an infant's undeveloped coagulation system needs support to function effectively.
The cascade is initiated when platelets, small blood cells, come into contact with a damaged vessel wall. They adhere to the site and release chemicals that attract more platelets, forming a temporary 'platelet plug.' Simultaneously, a variety of clotting factors are activated in a precise sequence. These factors are proteins mostly made in the liver, and many of them require Vitamin K for their synthesis.
Clotting factors such as prothrombin are converted to thrombin, which then transforms fibrinogen into fibrin. Fibrin threads weave through the platelet plug, creating a mesh that solidifies into a stable clot, sealing the wound. This elaborate mechanism highlights the importance of Vitamin K in newborn care, as an infant's undeveloped coagulation system needs support to function effectively.