World Hemophilia Day: Every year on 17th April a festival is celebrated in the honor of hemophilia. The International Federation of Hemophilia was founded by Frank Schnabel, whose birthday is celebrated today. The day is celebrated to increase the understanding of people about hemophilia and other bleeding disorders.
What is hemophilia?
Haemophilia is a rare genetic blood disease where the patient has extensive bleeding after an accident or surgery because their blood cannot clot. Men are more likely to get this disease. Blood clotting factors and platelets often form a clot around the wound, stopping bleeding when a person has a cut or bruise.
Hemophiliacs bleed for longer periods than healthy individuals because their blood lacks certain clotting factors. Factor VIII or Factor IX are the two primary clotting factors that are absent in hemophilic individuals.
The theme for World Hemophilia Day 2022 is “Access for All: Partnership”. Policy. Progress. Get your government involved, integrate inherited bleeding disorders into national policy”
What causes hemophilia?
The body collects blood cells to form a clot when a person bleeds from an internal or external wound to stop additional bleeding. Blood proteins interact with cells such as platelets to form clots, forming clots. When clotting factors are absent and there is persistent bleeding, hemophilia develops.
Congenital hemophilia
– acquired hemophilia
Signs and Symptoms of Hemophilia
The most important symptom is unusual or excessive bleeding or bruising, although individuals with hemophilia may have different symptoms. According to the National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD), signs and symptoms of hemophilia include:
– getting hurt
– hematoma, bleeding into muscle or soft tissue
-Bleeding from the mouth and gums
bleeding after circumcision
– bloody stool
– blood in the urine
– Frequent nose bleeding
Bleeding after vaccination or other injections
– bleeding in the joints
Bleeding after dental or other surgical procedures or injury
How is hemophilia diagnosed?
Beginning with a thorough history and physical examination, a health care professional will first treat the patient. If you exhibit symptoms of hemophilia, the medical professional will ask about your family medical history. These tests may be done by providers:
– Complete Blood Count (CBC)
– Prothrombin Time (PT) test
Activated partial thromboplastin time test
– specific clotting factor test(s)
Management and treatment of hemophilia
To treat hemophilia, medical specialists either increase the levels of clotting factors or replace those that are absent (replacement therapy).
With replacement therapy, patients receive lab-made (recombinant) clotting factors or concentrated human plasma. Only people with severe hemophilia normally require ongoing replacement therapy. Replacement therapy may be given to people who need surgery and who have mild or moderate hemophilia. Antifibrinolytics, a drug that prevents blood clots from dissolving, may also be given.
Is hemophilia preventable?
No, people cannot. If you have hemophilia and have children, your health care professional may recommend genetic testing to determine whether you and your children are at risk of passing the disease to your children.
(This article is for informational purposes only and should not be considered a substitute for advice provided by qualified medical professionals.)