Hemophilia is a condition where the body runs short of certain proteins or clotting factors, causing abnormality in blood clotting. As a result, wounds take longer to heal. It is one of the rarest blood disorders, and only one in 5000 people suffer from it. The following are the types, symptoms, and treatment options for managing hemophilia.

Types of hemophilia
There are two types of hemophilia based on the absence of a particular clotting factor:

• Hemophilia A: This type of hemophilia is caused due to the absence of the clotting factor VIII (FVIII). It accounts for up to 80 percent of the total hemophilia cases.
• Hemophilia B: Also referred to as “Christmas disease,” hemophilia B is caused due to the absence of clotting factor IX (FIX).

These hemophilia types can be mild, moderate, or severe based on the amount of deficiency of the clotting factor.

Symptoms of hemophilia
Hemophilia symptoms vary from person to person, depending on the severity of the disease or the level of clotting factors in the blood. With mildly reduced clotting factors, patients may only bleed after surgery or trauma. However, in cases of severe hemophilia, the person may experience spontaneous bleeding. General symptoms include:

• excessive bleeding from cuts or injuries during surgical or dental procedures
• large deep bruises
• pain or swelling in the joints
• blood in stools or urine
• unexplained nosebleeds

Treatment options for hemophilia

• Desmopressin
  The medication is used for treating mild forms of hemophilia A by increasing the factor VIII in the blood, which helps improve blood clotting. It is typically administered intravenously or in the form of nasal sprays.
• Antifibrinolytics
  This type of medication prevents the breakdown of specific proteins called fibrin, thereby helping the blood clot. The medication is used explicitly for treating hemophilia but can also manage heavy menstrual bleeding and vascular tumors. It is also used to control bleeding due to traumatic injury and surgery.
• Replacement therapy
  Also referred to as prophylactic or preventive therapy, this treatment is recommended for people suffering from severe hemophilia forms. However, it is observed that some hemophilic patients develop antibodies that inhibit the replacement factor from working. In such cases, medications may be prescribed to stop the effect of the inhibitors. One of the benefits of this therapy is, it can be given at home, preferably within one hour of a bleeding episode.
• Gene therapy
  This therapy is still being developed and is only carried out in the form of clinical trials. It involves replacing the patient’s defective gene with a normal one. This helps in producing active enzymes that prevent the progression of the disease. Being a form of clinical trial, doctors might recommend this treatment only to those patients who fit the criteria.