A rare condition identified by a lack of enough blood-clotting proteins or clotting factors in the body is known as hemophilia. As a result of these insufficient clotting factors, the blood does not clot the way it should. There are several symptoms and treatment of hemophilia, which you should know about to be able to avail medical attention at the earliest. Here’s having a look at those.

Symptoms of hemophilia
To understand the symptoms and the subsequent treatment of hemophilia, it is important to know what the condition is and how it affects the body. Hemophilia is a blood-related disorder that is inherited. It is identified by a lack of or insufficient levels of a particular protein in the body, which is known as clotting factors. As a result, the blood does not clot the way it should and in turn, it leads to excessive bleeding even if the wound is minor.

Hemophilia patients start bleeding easily since their blood cannot coagulate anymore, or takes much longer to. Internal or spontaneous bleeding can also be experienced by hemophilia patients. The bleeding can, additionally, lead to pain and swelling of the joints. While the condition is rare, it can result in life-threatening complications.

The symptoms caused by the condition are often based on how severely the protein is low in the body. Patients who suffer from mild deficiency can experience excessive bleeding as a result of a trauma. But in cases where the deficiency is severe, bleeding can occur for no reason. This is often referred to as spontaneous bleeding. When the condition affects children, the symptoms can start to appear as early as when they are 2 years old.

As a result of spontaneous bleeding, the following can be experienced:

• Blood in the urine
• Blood in the stool
• Mild to severe bruising
• Bleeding in excess
• Bleeding of the gums
• Frequent nosebleeds
• Joint pain
• Tightness in the joints
• Irritability, especially in children

Treatment options for hemophilia
There are different types of hemophilia, which are classified according to the various types of clotting factors. The most common course of treatment for hemophilia involves replacing the clotting factor that is low in numbers. The replacement is done using a tube inserted into a vein.

Replacement therapy can also be a course of treatment in case one is experiencing an excessive bleeding episode. The therapy can also be used regularly at home in order to prevent any bleeding episodes in the future. In some cases, the therapy is given continuously.

The clotting factor which is replaced can be taken from a donor’s blood. In case that isn’t an option, the treatment can also involve the use of products that are similar to the clotting factors, which are known as recombinant clotting factors. These are made in laboratories and do not use human blood.

There are some other therapies that can be used as part of the treatment. These include:

• Desmopressin
• Fibrin sealants
• Physical therapy
• Vaccines
• Medication to preserve clots