Hemophilia or Haemophilia is a rare genetic blood disorder in which blood does not clot properly. It affects males more but there are females who also have hemophilia. It affects 1 in 5000 male births. Since it is an inherited condition, the best way to prevent this condition is to ensure that those with history of hemophilia go through pre-conception screening.
Hemophilia is classified based on the deficiency of different clotting factors:
- Hemophilia A (Classic Hemophilia) – It is the most common type of condition. It occurs due to deficiency of clotting factors VIII.
- Hemophilia B (Christmas Disease) – It occurs due to deficiency of clotting factor IX.
- Hemophilia C – It occurs due to deficiency of clotting factors XI.
- Para hemophilia – It occurs due to clotting factor V deficiency.
Based on the percentage of clotting factors and severity, Hemophilia is classified into stages below:
- Mild Hemophilia – Individuals with 5% to 50% presence of clotting factor in the blood have this condition. They may have bleeding episodes after injury or surgery.
- Moderate Hemophilia – The presence of 1% to 5% clotting factors in the blood is considered as moderate hemophilia. Individuals with this condition experience frequent bleeding episodes after injury or surgery.
- Severe Hemophilia – Individuals with the presence of less than 1% clotting factors in the blood have this condition. Spontaneous bleeding and joint bleeding can happen in severe hemophilia.
If bleeding episodes are not treated on time, it can lead to serious complications such as,
Hemarthrosis – Bleeding within joints can lead to joint pain, inflammation and decreased mobility.
Hematoma - Hematoma is a localized collection of blood outside blood vessels. It can happen due to minor injury, tooth extraction or any other dental procedure.
Dental health issues – Fear of bleeding can lead to delays in seeking dental care in Hemophilia patients. This can lead to bleeding gums, tooth infection and periodontal infection.
Neurological complications - Intra cranial hemorrhage is a severe complication of Hemophilia. Minor head injuries can induce bleeding in patients.
Gastrointestinal bleeding – Blood in stool or urine can occur due to the inability to stop bleeding.
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