Bleeding

Excessive bleeding is the most common symptom of vitamin K deficiency. Vitamin K deficiency bleeding occurs when people are unable to stop bleeding because their blood lacks sufficient Vitamin K to form a clot. Anywhere on the inside or outside of the body can bleed. It can be difficult to detect bleeding that occurs within the body. Bleeding may also be visible if a person bruises easily, develops small blood clots beneath their nails, bleeds in mucous membranes that line internal organs, or produces stool that is dark black (almost like tar) and contains some blood.

Infants who do not receive the vitamin K shot at birth can develop Vitamin K deficiency bleeding at any time up to the age of six months. Based on the age of the baby when the bleeding problems begin, there are three types of Vitamin K deficiency bleeding: early, classical, and late. Doctors may detect vitamin K deficiency in infants if there is bleeding from the area where the umbilical cord is removed, bleeding in the skin, nose, gastrointestinal tract, or other areas, bleeding at the penis if the baby has been circumcised, or sudden brain bleeding, which is extremely dangerous and life-threatening.