The medical condition when the body fails to clot blood during times of external or internal bleeding is called hemophilia. It is a rare genetic disorder, which is mostly seen in men. In this article, we will focus on certain symptoms and treatment of hemophilia to help you understand the disease better.

Symptoms of Hemophilia
The disease begins to manifest with occasional bleeding or bruises, but the symptoms of hemophilia vary from person to person based on the intensity of the disease. Let’s look at the major symptoms:

• Unusual Bleeding
  Look for abnormal signs of bleeding. This applies to both external as  well as internal bleeding.
• Excess Blood Loss
  Accidental cuts, gum bleeding, or wounds may lead to excessive loss of blood. Sudden nosebleeds could also be a sign.
• Prolonged Clotting
  If you notice the bleeding continuing even after little healing, or external bruises taking longer to form blood clots, then it could be a sign of hemophilia.
• Internal Bleeding
  When there is the presence of blood particles in urine, mucus, or excrement, it could be a symptom of the disease. You can also experience deep internal bruises.

• Swollen Joints
  If internal bleeding takes place in areas like the knees or elbows, it can lead to swollen tissues. Patients can also feel pain as the joints grow warmer.
• Bleeding in the Brain
  It can become very critical when a patient suffers from bleeding in brain. Its symptoms could be headaches, nausea, seizures or vision problems.

Treatment Options for Hemophilia
If a patient is diagnosed with early signs of hemophilia, doctors follow certain procedures to cure it. Here are the treatments options for hemophilia:

• Replacement Therapy
  One of the major treatments for hemophilia is replacement therapy of clotting factors. In this treatment, doctors usually insert clotting factors in the veins of the patients via injections. The factors are produced by using human blood and monitored closely to avoid infections. In some cases, they also use a synthetic form of the substance called “recombinant clotting factors.”

• Prescription Hormones
  The type of hormone used in this method to cure hemophilia is known as desmopressin (DDAVP). This lab-based hormone is used to prevent excessive blood loss through cuts or bruises. Given in a restricted dosage, patients can receive this treatment by injection or in the form of a nasal spray.

• Tranexamic Acid
  In some scenarios, doctors try this treatment with a type of medicine termed as antifibrinolytic. It is mostly used to reduce breakage of blood clotting elements as a pill or injection. Doctors prescribe this procedure to minimize bleeding before operating on gums or other parts of the mouth.

Apart from all these, gene therapy is also being considered for hemophilia treatment but, it is not yet popularly practiced in any parts of the country. The symptoms and treatment of hemophilia mentioned above will help you in spotting the condition early. If you see any of the symptoms, do consult a doctor who specializes in complicated diseases like hemophilia.