Around the world, 1,250,000 men have hemophilia, and about 1 million have Von Willebrand disease and other clotting disorders. In the Philippines, roughly 10,000 Filipinos suffer from this rare, inherited illness. As we celebrate World Hemophilia Day this April 17, 2022, let's look at its causes, types, signs and symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment.
Hemophilia and its causes
Our blood contains clotting factors that help stop hemorrhaging. It is important to note that hemophilia is a genetic disorder, and hemophiliacs either have low levels of factor 8 or 9, which makes their blood not clot properly. Due to this, an injury or surgery could lead to spontaneous, profuse bleeding and severe health problems. The number of factors present in a person's blood determines the severity of the disease. It can also develop later in life, like in young women who have recently given birth or are in their later stages of pregnancy.
Hemophilia types
There are two types of hemophilia, and the most common one is hemophilia type A, which occurs in about 1 in 5000 males due to a defective or absent factor 8. Hemophilia B is less common and occurs in 1 out of every 25000 male births caused by a missing or faulty factor 8. Therefore, hemophiliacs are prone to excessive bleeding and internal hemorrhaging because they do not have any means to repair themselves.
Symptoms and Signs
According to Hemophilia Philippines, the common signs and symptoms of hemophilia include:
- Big bruises.
- Bleeding internally, inside muscles and joints, causing pain and immobility.
- Spontaneous bleeding (sudden bleeding inside the body for no apparent reason) characterized by pain and swelling.
- Prolonged bleeding.
- Protracted or unexpected hematuria (blood in the urine).
- Prolonged bleeding after getting a cut, removing a tooth, or having surgery.
- Bleeding for a long time after an accident, such as after an injury to the head.
Diagnosis
In most cases, the diagnosis of hemophilia only happens during a profuse bleeding episode from an injury or surgery. A clotting factor test can reveal a deficiency and determine the severity of the disease.
For people with a family history of hemophilia, a genetic test can determine if a woman who plans on becoming pregnant is a carrier of the disorder.
Treatment
There is no known cure for hemophilia. The only treatment available is a slow drip or injected replacement therapy of factors 8 or 9, which helps replace the deficient factor, allowing the blood to clot. Not all Filipinos, though, have access to this kind of treatment. Only 1 out of 4 Filipinos can afford this treatment.
Support
Suppose you suspect you have hemophilia or have been recently diagnosed with the disease. You may connect with the Hemophilia Association of the Philippines for Love and Service (HAPLOS), a community of persons with hemophilia and other bleeding disorders, their families, and healthcare professionals.
References:
https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/hemophilia/index.html
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/hemophilia/symptoms-causes/syc-20373327
