Hemophilia Can Turn a Minor Injury Into a Major Issue

People who suffer from hemophilia have blood that does not clot normally. This is due to the missing blood clotting proteins most people have. Those with hemophilia will find that they bleed for a long time after an injury. Generally, if a person with hemophilia gets a small injury, this is not a serious problem. However, if a person suffers from a severe deficiency of the clotting factor, this can lead to bleeding inside the body including in the knees, elbows, and ankles. Internal bleeding can cause damage to the organs of the body and can quickly become life-threatening. Hemophilia is a genetic disorder and will run in families. There are several different treatment options that are geared towards helping alleviate some of the bleeding issues.

Signs of Hemophilia

The signs of hemophilia will vary from person to person. When a person only has a mild level of reduced clotting factor, they may only bleed when they have a trauma or surgery. For those that have a higher level, they may experience spontaneous bleeding. The signs of hemophilia include:

• Bruising. If a person has large or deep unexplained bruises, this can be a sign of hemophilia.
• Excessive bleeding after cuts, surgery, or dental work.
• Joint pain, swelling, or tightness. Bleeding into the joints can cause swelling, pain, and tightness.
• Nosebleeds. If a person has nosebleeds for no reason, this is a sign of this disorder.
• Blood in the urine or stool. If a person has blood or urine in their stool, they need to be tested for hemophilia.
• Unexplained irritability in infants. Infants that have hemophilia may be irritable and cry due to joint pain caused by hemophilia.

Potential Complications

There are several complications when having hemophilia. These include:

• Internal bleeding - Internal bleeding can occur in muscles and cause the affected areas to swell. The swelling can press on nerves which can lead to pain and swelling.
• Joint damage - When a person has internal bleeding, it can cause pressure on the joints. This can cause severe pain. If it is left untreated, the swelling can cause the joint to fail and can cause arthritis.
• Adverse reactions - One of the treatment options for those with severe hemophilia is to have a clotting factor treatment. Some people will develop an adverse reaction to the treatment due to the immune system response. This will make treatment less effective for the patient.
• Infection - When a person has hemophilia, they are more likely to need a blood transfusion at some point. Blood transfusions are generally safe, but occasionally a person can receive contaminated blood, which could lead to infections.

Treating Hemophilia

There are several different treatment options when it comes to hemophilia. A clotting factor replacement therapy is a treatment option for those suffering from hemophilia. For some people, this helps to curb all of their symptoms. In some cases, this type of therapy may be administered at home frequently to help control bleeding episodes.There are several different medications that can help mild hemophilia. Several prescription medications and clot preserving medications can help to alleviate bleeding issues. Physical therapy can help to alleviate swelling and discomfort around the joints. Some over the counter pain killing medications can cause bleeding disorders to be worse. Check with a doctor or pharmacist to see which can work properly for you while having hemophilia. It is imperative that people with hemophilia have good oral hygiene. They need to prevent tooth extraction as it can cause excessive bleeding. Special care needs to be taken by anyone that has hemophilia as it can be a life-threatening condition. If someone has hemophilia symptoms, they should see their doctor as soon as possible for treatment options.