Hemophilia is a rare disorder in which the blood doesn’t clot normally because it lacks sufficient clotting factors. As a result, the patients of hemophilia experience prolonged bleeding in case of an injury, surgery, or when having a tooth pulled. In severe conditions of hemophilia, continuous bleeding occurs after minor trauma or even in the absence of an injury. Serious complications may lead to bleeding in joints, muscles, the brain, or the internal organs. Although it is an inherited disorder, unexpected changes occur in the genes sometimes, and a person might be affected by this disorder later in life.

Types and causes of hemophilia

• Hemophilia A : This is the most common type of hemophilia, and it is caused by a deficiency of factor VIII. Eight out of ten people with hemophilia have hemophilia A. This disorder is genetic, and one can inherit it from their parents. It might also happen if a certain gene changes before another is born, which is known as a spontaneous mutation. This disorder is seen more in men than in women. Hemophilia A can be mild, moderate, or severe, depending on how little one has of factor VIII.
• Hemophilia B : It is also called Christmas disease and is caused by a deficiency of factor IX. The two main symptoms of this disorder are bleeding for longer than normal and bruising easily. With such a disease, even a small bump to the head can be serious. There is no cure for this disorder, but one can get factor IX, which the body does not make, by replacement therapy.
• Hemophilia C : It is a mild form of a disease that’s caused by a deficiency of factor XI. Both parents carry the gene to pass it on to their children. Unlike hemophilia A and B, men and women are equally affected by hemophilia C. People with lower levels of factor XI may bleed less than those with higher levels of factor XI. Joint and muscle bleeding are common in the case of this type of disorder. People also experience nosebleeds or soft tissue bleeds.

Even though it is a group of inherited genetic conditions, hemophilia can also develop after birth, in which case it is known as acquired hemophilia. This disorder is caused when the person’s immune system forms antibodies that attack factor VIII or IX.

When one bleeds, the body normally pools the blood cells together to form a clot and stop the bleeding, and certain blood particles help in the clotting process. Hemophilia occurs when one has a deficiency of one of the clotting factors.

Small cuts usually aren’t much of a problem. The greater health concern is dependent bleeding inside the body. Internal bleeding can damage the organs and can also be life-threatening. The immune system attacks the clotting factors, and this can be associated with pregnancy, autoimmune conditions, cancer, and multiple sclerosis. The other complications related to hemophilia are as follows:

• Deep internal bleeding
• Damage to the joints
• Infection
• Adverse reaction to clotting factor treatment

So, early diagnosis and the right treatment is necessary to manage the condition and live with it.