Stop the bleeding, learn about Haemophilia

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Haemophilia is a rare bleeding disorder in which the blood doesn’t clot in the normal way as it lacks blood-clotting proteins (clotting factors). Clotting factors are proteins in the blood that work with cells known as platelets to form clots. Haemophilia occurs when a clotting factor VIII is missing or levels of the clotting factor are low. Hemophilia is almost always a genetic disorder.

Signs and symptoms

Signs and symptoms of hemophilia vary, depending on the level of clotting factors. If the clotting-factor level is mildly reduced, you might bleed only after surgery or trauma. If your deficiency is severe, you can bleed easily for seemingly no reason.

Signs and symptoms of spontaneous bleeding include:

• Unexplained and excessive bleeding from cuts or injuries or after surgery or dental work

• Skin which bruises easily

• Unusual bleeding after vaccinations

• Pain, swelling or tightness in joints from bleeding; it often affects the knees, elbows and ankles

• Skin which bruises easily

• Skin which bruises easily

Intracranial bleeding is extremely life-threatening condition which can lead to paralysis as well as death. Frequent blood transfusion in Haemophilia patients increases the risk of infections like HIV, Hepatitis B, C etc., which in turn can lead to chronic diseases.

Causes

Congenital hemophilia –

is usually inherited, meaning a person is born with the disorder (congenital). Congenital hemophilia is classified by the type of clotting factor that's low. The most common type is hemophilia A, associated with a low level of factor 8, the next most common type is hemophilia B, associated with a low level of factor 9.

Hemophilia inheritance

In the most common types of hemophilia, the faulty gene is located on the X chromosome. Everyone has two sex chromosomes, one from each parent. Females inherit an X chromosome from the mother and an X chromosome from the father. Males inherit an X chromosome from the mother and a Y chromosome from the father.

This means that hemophilia almost always occurs in boys and is passed from mother to son through one of the mother's genes. Most women with the defective gene are carriers who have no signs or symptoms of hemophilia. But some carriers can have bleeding symptoms if their clotting factors are moderately decreased.

Diagnosis

– Blood tests can diagnose Haemophilia and find out the severity.
– Mild Haemophilia may be discovered usually after an injury or a dental or surgical procedure.

Treatment

Haemophilia is a lifelong condition. It can’t be cured, but with current clotting factor treatments, it can be managed effectively. Specialized treatment is needed to help blood clot normally and is often infused or injected into a vein.

Complications

–Complications of hemophilia can include:

Deep internal bleeding –

in deep muscle which causes the limbs to swell and press on nerves and leads to numbness or severe pain. Damage to joints which left can cause arthritis or destruction of the joint.

Bleeding into the throat or neck –

can affect a person's ability to breathe.

Adverse reaction to clotting factor treatment –

with some people with severe hemophilia, the immune system has a negative reaction to the clotting factors used to treat bleeding. When this happens, the immune system develops proteins that stops the clotting factors from working, making treatment less effective.

At FirstCure Health, we not only address all issues related to the disorder but also provide health awareness which helps people with Haemophilia stay healthy.