Hemophilia
Hemophilia is an inherited that causes abnormal bleeding. The bleeding occurs because parts of the blood called plasma has too little of a protein that helps blood clot. There are two types of hemophilia, hemophilia A which is the most common and occurs in about 85% of people with hemophilia. Hemophilia B which is the less common and occurs in about 15% of people with hemophilia. Hemophilia A is a result from too little plasma protein called VIII which helps blood clot the greater the deficiency the more severe the symptoms. Hemophilia B results from too little plasma protein IX which helps blood clot. The levels of hemophilia are mild 5%-25% of the normal factor VIII level, moderate 1%-5% of the normal factor VIII level, severe 1% of the normal factor VIII level. People with hemophilia A have moderate to severe symptoms but unlike hemophilia A hemophilia B cab be either mild, moderate or severe, the greater the deficiency the more severe the symptoms.
If there is no family history of hemophilia doctors do not check infants. If there is a family history of hemophilia there are specific tests that doctors perform, such as an umbilical cord blood sample and if the family wants, testing can be done before the child is born.
Moderate to severe symptoms, heavy bleeding in a male infant after being circumcised, excessive bruising or unusual bleeding during teething, swollen, bruised joints or muscles when learning to walk frequent falls and bumps. Mild hemophilia, won’t show much signs unless having a surgery performed or are in a serious accident causing injuries.
Internal bleeding that is caused by hemophilia can cause serious health problems. Joint deformity, people with severe hemophilia have spontaneous bleeding in their joints if not treated right away joints may lose mobility and become susceptible to further bleeding. People with less severe hemophilia won’t experience bleeding of the joints unless they are injured. The knee, ankle and...