Hemophilia – Types, Symptoms, and Treatment

Hemophilia – Types, Symptoms, and Treatment

People who experience severe bleeding even due to a minor cut are considered to be severely affected by hemophilia. It is a disease in which the affected person’s body lacks clotting factors, leading to an inability to form blood clots to stop bleeding. This leads to severe blood loss and may also increase the risk of internal bleeding. The symptoms and treatment of hemophilia depend on the type of the condition that affects an individual.

Types of hemophilia
The following are the different types of hemophilia that may affect an individual:

  • Hemophilia A
    One in every 5,000 males is born with this type of hemophilia, the cause of which is the deficiency of factor VIII.
  • Hemophilia B
    This type of hemophilia is the result of the deficiency of factor IX in blood, and this is the second most common type.
  • Hemophilia C
    Also known as Rosenthal syndrome, hemophilia C is caused due to the lack of factor XI, a protein essential for the blood clotting process.

Symptoms of hemophilia
Here are some of the most common symptoms of hemophilia that require medical intervention and treatment to avoid further complications:

  • Joint pain
    Sudden pain in the joints and bones may be considered as a major symptom of hemophilia. One may feel severe pain in their wrist, knee, and leg joints.
  • Blood in the urine
    The presence of blood in the urine is also a common symptom of hemophilia. If an individual notices the presence of blood in the urine for more than a week, they must immediately consult a doctor.
  • Sudden and excessive bleeding
    Sudden loss of blood from the nose is another major symptom of hemophilia. This may result in serious issues and may also lead to weakness. Studies concerning the symptoms and treatment of hemophilia have pointed out that an individual facing severe and excessive blood loss without any reason should immediately visit a doctor to prevent severe adverse effects of hemophilia.

Treatment options
Certain emergency measures must be taken for the treatment of hemophilia and to help patients cope with the condition. Hemophilia patients suffer from a deficiency of certain clotting factors in their blood, so the following treatment methods can be undertaken:

  • If the deficient clotting factor has been specified, it can be added to the blood to enhance the clotting process.
  • Sudden and severe bleeding from an accidental cut must be treated immediately to control blood loss.
  • Severe injuries and cuts on areas of the body like the head, neck, chest, and the stomach might be life-threatening, sp blood clotting factor treatment must be immediately initiated.
  • For moderate hemophilia that has already been diagnosed, Desmopressin (DDAVP®) must be injected into the bloodstream to temporarily raise the blood clotting efficiency until the tissue heals and bleeding stops.

Hemophilia is a disease that makes it difficult for wounds to heal, so if an individual feels that minor cuts and injuries are leading to heavy blood loss, they should call for emergency diagnosis and treatment.