Taylor

Hemophilia

Hemophilia is a rare blood disorder in which blood does not clot normally. This disorder is usually inherited, and not acquired over the living years. In other years, you are either born with it or you're not. Outside factors, like smoking while pregnant or other things, will not affect whether you're child is born with this.

This is a sex-linked syndrome that affects the 'X' chromosome in a person. This disease usually occurs in males more than women, since a man only has one X chromosome, if his X chromosome is messed up with this disease, then he will definatley get it. Women on the other hand, have two X chromosomes, so both of their chromosomes would have to be affected with the disorder to actually affect a woman. Girls tend to be carriers of Hemophilia, meaning they arent affected but may pass the disease down to their children.



There are two types of Hemophilia, //Hemophilia A// and //Hemophilia B. Hemophilia A// is called either Classic Hemophilia or Factor VIII deficiency. If you have this, which 9 out of 10 people with Hemophilia actually have, you are missing clotting factor VIII or have little dosages of it in you. //Hemophilia B// is called either Christmas Disease or Factor IX deficiency. This form is more rare, and if you have this you are missing clotting factors IX.

About 1 in every 5,000 males born every year, are born with Hemophilia.

Symptoms of Hemophilia include: (for external bleeding) excessive bleeding from the mouth area, random nosebleeds for no reasons, severe bleeding from minor cut or injury. (for internal bleeding, which is also possible) excessive bleeding (due to bleeding in the muscles), blood in urine (due to bleeding in kidneys or bladder area), blood in the stool (due to bleeding from stomach or intestines), swollen, tender muscles, or swollen painful joints.

in this picture, someone with Hemophilia has or is suffering internal bleeding in the elbow region. (Ew)

A very common symptom of Hemophilia is bleeding in the joints, like the ankles, elbows or knees. This is a sign of internal bleeding, and it may happen to patients for no apperent reason. At first, when this occurs, it's not very noticable, your joints tighten but they aren't in any real pain. Later on, that joint becomes swollen, hot to touch and painful to bend. If it is not treated right away, patients can temporarily lose ability to move the joint or suffer severe damage to it.

One more serious problem with Hemophilia is bleeding in the brain. It can occur after just a small bump to the head and is very serious. Signs of bleeding in the brain include, long-lasting and painful headaches, neck pain/ stiffness, repeated vomiting, change in consciousness and/or behavior, double vision, convulsions(spazzums) or seizures, and/or sudden weakness of arms or legs and walking problems. The life expectancy of a person varies based on if the person with Hemophilia gets the right care and treatment. Without the right treatment, many people with this disorder will die before hitting adulthood. With the right treatment though, they can live to a normal life expectancy. Refereneces :: []& []