The Truth About Haemophilia

Copyright 2006 Anne Wolski
You are working with young peopleone of them cuts himself
It’s only a small cut but he is a haemophiliacwhat happens
now?
What is haemophilia?
Haemophilia is a condition in which one or more of the clotting
factors in the blood is defective It is an hereditary condition
and affects males more so than females This can cause excessive
bleeding, particularly internal bleeding into the joints
Can the sufferer bleed to death?
Many people believe that a haemophiliac will bleed to death from
the slightest injury but this is nothing more than a myth Their
cuts and scratches may bleed a bit longer but, under normal
circumstances, this will not be fatal Obviously, as with anyone
else, they may bleed to death from major injury
What is a ‘bleed’?
People who suffer from haemophilia bleed internally into the
joints This means that the blood remains in the body but fills
the cavities around the joints This can be treated by the
injection of a clotting agent Many people suffer from joint
conditions such as arthritis as a result of these ‘bleeds’
How does haemophilia affect general lifestyle?
People with haemophilia can live a relatively normal life They
are able to work, play sport, travel, and anything else they
choose Obviously, it would be extremely unwise of them to
engage in employment or activities that have a generally high
rate of injury As with anyone else, precautions should be taken
when engaging in activities such as horseriding, motorcycle
riding and so forth
Can haemophilia be treated?
It used to be common for a person with haemophilia to die young
but, with the modern treatments currently available,
haemophiliacs can live a normal lifespan Internal bleeding is
treated by the injection of a clotting factor This is normally
done by a doctor or at a hospital but people can be taught to
administer this themselves Children who suffer severe
haemophilia are treated with a preventative dose of blood
clotting products to try to avoid bleeds
Basically, the condition of haemophilia is a genetic condition
which affects mainly males It is characterised by internal
bleeds that can be treated by injections of a blood clotting
factor into the bloodstream It affects all races and
socio-economic groups It can lead to arthritis and chronic pain
because of the bleeding into the joints

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