Hemophilia
Basic information of Hemophilia.
Hemophilia is a genetic disorder of your blood - clotting in the process by which your blood changes from a liquid to a solid state. If you have hemophilia and you have a major cut, you will bleed for longer time than you would if your blood clotted. Hemophilia is a life long disease, but with treatment and self-care, most people with hemophilia can maintain active and productive lifestyle.
Characteristic.
There are some symptoms that are prolonged oozing after injuries, tooth extractions or surgery, renewed bleeding after initial bleeding has stopped, easy or spontaneous bruising, and prolonged bleeding. People who have hemophilia need to exercise regularly. They should practice swimming, bicycle riding, and walking to build up muscle while protecting joints, but football, hockey, and wrestling are not safe. If they pain, they can take some Tylenol, and people with hemophilia need to have good dental hygiene. Also, hemophilic people can have a "normal" life; however, they will have to handle with pain, internal bleeding, and they will need to take Heparin and Warfarin, medicines which prevent blood for clotting for the rest of their lives.
Cause.
Hemophilia is caused by an inherited x - linked recessive trait, with the defective gene located on the x - chromosomes. The gene name is the factor vIII gene on x - chromosome.
Treatment.
There is no cure for Hemophilia just treatment. Some types of the treatments are slow injection of a medicine called desmopressin ( DDAVP ) to help to release more clotting to stop the bleeding; hemophilia A or B needs to have an infusion of clotting taken from the donated human blood or genetically engineered products,; also, physical therapy helps to keep the joints moving and prevents the joints from becoming frozen or badly deformed.
Other Facts.
Interesting facts.
- The gene that causes hemophilia A or B is located on the x - chromosomes, so it can't be passed from father to son. The gene that caused hemophilia C can be passed on to children by either parents.
- People with hemophilia A or B are living much longer and with less disability than they did 30 years ago.
- Hemophilia may cause deep muscle bleeding that leads to swelling of a limb.
- If bleeding occurs frequently and you do not adequate treatment, the irritation may lead to destruction of the joint or the development of arthritis.
- People with hemophilia are more likely to recessive blood transfusion and are at greater risk of receiving contaminated blood product.