Hemophilia is a malady in which the blood fails to clot properly, resulting in prolonged bleeding. Testing for hemophilia involves taking a blood sample and analyzing it for the amount of clotting factor present. A deficiency of this clotting factor will indicate a diagnosis of hemophilia. In families with a history of this disease, the fetus can be tested during pregnancy to see if the condition is present. Occasionally, slight cases of hemophilia aren't recognized until the patient has surgery and experiences excessive bleeding.
Symptoms can range from mild to severe, depending on the amount of clotting factors present in the blood. If testing for hemophilia has revealed that these factors are low, the patient may experience spontaneous bleeding. Signs of spontaneous bleeding include multiple large bruises, the presence of blood in the urine or bowel movements, and swollen, painful. joints. An emergency indication of hemophilia is the sudden onset of pain and swelling affecting the major joints, such as hips, knees, and elbow. Other emergency signs include repeated vomiting, pronounced fatigue, and a bad prolonged headache.
When testing for hemophilia reveals the presence of the condition, it is not necessarily a cause for undue alarm. It's encouraging to know that the majority of people with this disease can enjoy a fairly normal lifestyle. Treatment for mild cases may involve the hormone desmopressin, which produces more clotting factor in the blood. Treatment for advanced cases may include plasma infusions or habitual clotting factor infusions. Physical therapy can also improve the functioning of damaged joints, but a joint replacement may be needed when the damage is severe.
Doctors may advise certain lifestyle measures following a positive testing for hemophilia. Patients should engage in exercise such as walking or swimming, but contact sports should be strictly avoided. Further lifestyle practices include good dental hygiene. Regular brushing and flossing of teeth can prevent the necessity of an extraction, which would cause bleeding.
Anyone with this diagnosis should not take aspirin or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, such as ibuprofen, as they can can cause bleeding. Other medications to avoid include blood-thinners, such as heparin or warfarin, as they also can produce excessive bleeding. Some herbal products have the potential to aggravate the problem, so a doctor should be consulted before taking them.
Parents of children with hemophilia should consult their doctor regarding how to keep them active, while protecting them from injuries. The use of helmets, knee pads, and safety belts is advised. In the home, parents can abstain from acquiring furniture with sharp edges, and sharp objects can be made inaccessible to the child.
