Diffuse bleeding diathesis due to vitamin K deficient haemorrhagic disease of fetus or newborn

**Definition:** Haemorrhagic disease of the newborn is a bleeding disorder of the newborn usually seen in the first week after life when vitamin K replacement is not provided to the newborn infant immediately after birth and is primarily characterised by gastrointestinal bleeding. The disorder can also be seen later in the newborn period in breast fed infants of vitamin K deficient mothers.