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Hemophilia Patient Information

Hemophilia is a disease that affects blood clotting or how your blood becomes solid to stop bleeding. Approximately 18,000 people in the U.S. have hemophilia, according to the National Heart, Blood and Lung Institute.

  1. Causes

    • Hemophilia is a genetic disorder that is passed on through families. The disease is most common in men, reports the U.S. National Library of Medicine.

    Types of Hemophilia

    • The most common type of hemophilia is Hemophilia A, which is caused by the lack of a substance known as clotting factor VIII. There are two other types of hemophilia are Hemophilia B and C, of which Hemophilia C is the least common, according to the Mayo Clinic.

    Symptoms

    • Symptoms of hemophilia include large bruises, joint pain, unexplained bleeding or bruising, blood in urine or stool, prolonged bleeding after an injury or medical procedure and nosebleeds.

    Time Frame

    • Hemophilia is usually present at birth, but often does not present symptoms until infants become more mobile, such as when they begin to roll over and crawl, explains the Mayo Clinic.

    Risks

    • Risks associated with hemophilia include serious internal bleeding, damage to your joints and an increased risk for infections because of the need for frequent blood transfusions.

    Treatment

    • There is no cure for hemophilia, but doctors treat to decrease the likelihood of severe bleeding with infusions or injections of artificial clotting factors.

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