Haemophilia

About Bleeding Disorders

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Understanding Haemophilia

Haemophilia is a bleeding disorder characterized by a deficiency in clotting factors, proteins in the blood responsible for controlling bleeding. While individuals with haemophilia do not bleed faster than normal, they experience prolonged bleeding due to insufficient clotting factors. This condition poses significant challenges as even minor injuries or internal bleeding can lead to prolonged bleeding episodes.

Though haemophilia is relatively rare, affecting approximately 1 in 10,000 people, its impact on individuals and families can be profound. The most common type, haemophilia A, results from a deficiency in clotting factor VIII (factor eight). Conversely, haemophilia B, though less common, occurs due to a deficiency in factor IX (factor nine). Despite the distinction between these types, the outcome remains consistent: individuals with haemophilia A or B experience prolonged bleeding, increasing the risk of complications and impacting their quality of life.

Common Symptoms of Haemophilia
  • Prolonged bleeding from minor injuries or surgeries.
  • Frequent and prolonged nosebleeds.
  • Heavy or prolonged menstrual bleeding.
  • Easy bruising.
  • Abnormal bleeding after childbirth
Haemophilia is a rare bleeding disorder characterized by the deficiency or absence of clotting factors in the blood, which impairs the blood's ability to clot properly. This results in prolonged bleeding episodes even from minor injuries.
Haemophilia is typically an inherited genetic disorder, passed down from parents to their children. It is caused by mutations in the genes responsible for producing clotting factors VIII (in haemophilia A) or IX (in haemophilia B).
Treatment for haemophilia typically involves replacement therapy, where missing clotting factors are infused into the bloodstream to help clot the blood. This can be done on-demand to treat bleeding episodes or as prophylaxis to prevent them.