Hemophilia Symptoms

Hemophilia, also known as the bleeder's disease, is a rare congenital disease which is hereditary. If there is a congenital deficiency of clotting factors in a person, he suffers from this disease. It should be noted that only men suffer from this disease, and women are carriers of it. In earlier times, as there was no treatment available, a person suffering from it often died. However, today there are treatments available that can help in treating the disease. But, even today, there is no permanent cure for this rare disease.

An Overview on Hemophilia
There are three types of hemophilia; A, B and C. They are differentiated depending on the deficient clotting factor. Hemophilia A is the most common type and is caused due to deficiency of clotting factor VIII (hemophilia B is caused due to deficiency of clotting factor IX, whereas hemophilia C is caused when clotting factor XI is deficient). It is a genetic disorder and its inheritance is in a crisscross type pattern, i.e. it is inherited from an infected person to his grandson via his daughter (in other words, from father to his grandson, through the daughter). The woman always remains a carrier of hemophilia and never the sufferer.

Symptoms
Apart from the above mentioned ones, the disease is classified as mild, moderate and severe, according to its severity. Mild hemophilia is not diagnosed until the person bruises himself due to an accident or undergoes a surgery. On the other hand, moderate and severe hemophilia can be identified at an early stage. Bleeding, specially in the joints, is the most important symptom of this disease

Mild Hemophilia

• Joint pain
• Irritation in joints
• Tingling sensation in joints

Moderate Hemophilia

• Tender joints
• Stiffness in joints
• Severe joint pain
• Pain during joint movement

Severe Hemophilia

• Large bruises
• Unexplained bleeding in gums / nose
• Blood in urine / feces
• Tightness in joints
• Heavy bleeding from minor cuts

Symptoms of Intracranial Hemorrhage
Internal bleeding is very common sign of this disease. People suffering from severe hemophilia suffer from internal bleeding in the brain at least once in their lives. This is known as intracranial hemorrhage. The symptoms of it include:

• Headache
• Vomiting
• Convulsion
• Blurred vision
• Lack of coordination
• Stiffness in neck
• Confusion
• Clumsiness
• Inability to talk
• Behavioral changes
• Seizures

Diagnosis
Pregnant women, having a history of hemophilia, should undergo prenatal tests like the hemophilia gene test in order to diagnose the disease. She should also undergo CVS (chorionic villus sampling) test for the same. If a person bleeds excessively during any surgery, due to any cut, wound, bruise, tooth removal, circumcision, the doctor suspects the presence of hemophilia. He may advice the person to undergo blood tests to confirm hemophilia and its type. Complications of this disorder include blood infection, bone destruction and even death.

Treatment
Nowadays, as there is treatment available, the mortality rate of it has reduced substantially. Clotting factor replacement is one of the effective treatment methods. If the person is suffering from a mild hemophilia, the clotting factors are replaced only when the person starts unnatural and uncontrolled bleeding. It is also given when bleeding is anticipated like during any surgery, etc. On the other hand, in case of severe hemophilia, the clotting factors need to be replaced regularly.

Although it is a rare disease, one should know about hemophilia symptoms as it can help in the timely diagnosis and treatment of the disease. There is neither a cure nor any preventive measure available. But, with the advancement in medicinal science, this disease can be effectively treated. With the help of treatment methods and certain precautions, a hemophiliac can live a normal and active life!