hemophilia: do you know the signs?

hemophilia is a rare, genetic disorder in which blood does not properly clot because the proteins responsible for this function are missing or malfunctioning. without this ability, internal and external bleeding can be difficult to control: people may bleed spontaneously, or without stopping.

there are three types of the disorder, according to the canadian hemophilia society , hemophilia a, b and c. all three versions are characterized by insufficient levels of clotting factor viii or ix. the overall severity of the condition depends on the how much of each factor a patient has in their blood. hemophilia a is by far the most common of the three, making up an estimated 85 per cent of cases.

symptoms of hemophilia

signs of hemophilia can vary depending on the type of disorder and the amount of clotting factor a patient has in their blood. if clotting is mildly impaired, according to the mayo clinic , a patient may only bleed after surgery or trauma. if it is severe, however, they may bleed for almost no reason. symptoms of spontaneous bleeding can include:

• unexplained bleeding from cuts, injuries or dental work
• nosebleeds with no known cause
• multiple large or deep bruises
• bleeding from vaccinations
• painful or swollen joints
• blood in urine or stool
• unexplained irritability (in infants)

• a painful headache
• sleepiness, fatigue or lethargy
• double vision
• frequent vomiting
• weakness or clumsiness
• seizures or convulsions

diagnosing hemophilia

treating hemophilia

although the type and severity of the disorder dictates the medical response, the main treatment, according to healthline , involves infused treatments to replace a patient’s clotting factor. these treatments, used in cases of hemophilia a and b, can be synthetic or made from human plasma. they can be used to treat a bleeding event in progress or prevent future episodes and may be required on an ongoing basis for some patients.

• aminocaproic acid – prevents the breakdown of blood clots. may be prescribed for use prior to medical procedures
• non-factor replacement therapies – synthetic proteins are injected into the skin to replace clotting factors.
• physical therapy – helps facilitate recovery from damaged joints
• pain management – drugs may be prescribed to alleviate pain

patients with hemophilia c, the rarest and generally most mild form of the disorder, may only need to use clot-preserving medication prior to surgery.  

preventing hemophilia

prevalence of hemophilia

according to a 2019 study, the worldwide prevalence of hemophilia is three times larger than previously believed, affecting 1,125,000 men around the world (as opposed to 400,000). by the end of 2018, according to cbc , there were 3,006 canadians living with hemophilia a and 665 living with hemophilia b, the two most common forms of the disorder. it costs between $300 and $400-million a year to care for these patients.

support for hemophilia

for more information about hemophilia and other blood disorders, including news on the latest research and therapies, visit the canadian hemophilia society .

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hemophilia: do you know the signs?

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