Final answer:
The symptoms described are associated with a Vitamin K deficiency, which is necessary for blood clotting. Vitamin C deficiency leads to scurvy, which involves different symptoms like swollen gums but not typically hematuria or melena. The correct option is a.
Step-by-step explanation:
The symptoms of easy bruisability, melena, hematuria, and splinter hemorrhages can all be seen with vitamin deficiencies, especially those that are involved in blood clotting and the integrity of blood vessels. Among the options given, the correct answer is A) Vitamin K deficiency.
Vitamin K is essential for the synthesis of clotting factors in the liver, and its deficiency can lead to an increased risk of bleeding and bruising.
Additionally, vitamin K is a fat-soluble vitamin, contrasted with Vitamin C, which is a water-soluble vitamin responsible for the formation of collagen and which, when deficient, can also lead to symptoms of bleeding such as swollen gums and easy bruising, a condition known as scurvy.
However, scurvy and its associated symptoms do not typically include hematuria or melena, which are more characteristic of vitamin K deficiency. The correct option is a.