Haemophilia
Overview
Haemophilia is a rare condition that affects the way your blood clots, meaning you bleed more easily than other people. It cannot usually be cured, but treatment can help control your symptoms.
Symptoms
Symptoms of haemophilia include: bleeding for a long time after an injury, surgery, or having a tooth removedbruising easilyjoint pain, stiffness and swelling Symptoms of haemophilia usually begin in early childhood, but sometimes symptoms may not be noticed until later. Other conditions can cause similar symptoms to haemophilia, such asvon Willebrand disease. There are things you can do to stay safe, and prevent bleeds and complications of haemophilia. use your regular medicines straight away and get medical help if you have any bleeding use your regular medicines straight away and get medical help if you have any bleeding get regular exercise to keep your joints healthy – a physiotherapist can help you decide what type of exercise is right for you get regular exercise to keep your joints healthy – a physiotherapist can help you decide what type of exercise is right for you take care of your teeth and gumsand have regular dental check-ups take care of your teeth and gumsand have regular dental check-ups check with your haemophilia team before taking any new medicines check with your haemophilia team before taking any new medicines speak to your haemophilia team before planning any surgery or dental treatment speak to your haemophilia team before planning any surgery or dental treatment wear a medical alert bracelet wear a medical alert bracelet do not take aspirin, ibuprofen or other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) do not take aspirin, ibuprofen or other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) do not do contact sports, such as rugby or boxing, unless your haemophilia team have told you it's safe do not do contact sports, such as rugby or boxing, unless your haemophilia team have told you it's safe
Causes
Haemophilia is caused by a lack of a protein, called clotting factor, that helps blood clot. Most people with haemophilia are born with it. It is possible to develop haemophilia later in life (acquired haemophilia), but this is very rare.
Treatment
Haemophilia is usually treated with injections of clotting factor to replace the missing clotting factor in your blood. It can also be treated with other medicines including emicizumab, desmopressin andtranexamic acid. Haemophilia is treated in 2 main ways: If you have severe haemophilia, you'll usually need injections up to 3 times a week to prevent bleeding (preventative or prophylactic treatment). You can usually do these injections yourself at home.If you have mild or moderate haemophilia, you'll usually only need treatment to stop or reduce bleeding after it starts (on-demand treatment). You may also need treatment before having surgery or dental work. Some people develop antibodies to clotting factor, called inhibitors, which make this treatment less effective. If this happens, your haemophilia team will work with you to find you a more suitable treatment. The clotting factor used to treat haemophilia today is very safe. Much of it's synthetic and has no risk of infection. When it's made from donated blood, it's tested and treated to make sure it's as safe as possible, and the risk of getting an infection from it is very low.