13 Fast Facts About Hemophilia

Hemophilia is a rare inherited disease where a person is lacking a certain type of clotting factor. This means that their blood is unable to clot so injuries will result in extensive bleeding. If left untreated, this bleeding can become life-threatening.

Here are a few fast facts about this rare blood disease:

MORE: How hemophilia is inherited. 

• There are three different types of hemophilia: hemophilia A, B, and C.
• The type is determined by the clotting factor the person is deficient in.
• The more deficient in the clotting factor a person is, the more severe their hemophilia will be.
• There is no cure for hemophilia but with preventative treatment, people can live normal, healthy lives.
• The clotting factors involved are VIII for A, IX for B and XII for hemophilia C.
• People living with the hemophilia A and B need to have clotting factor IVs every couple of days.
• Hemophilia C is considered less serious than A and B, and bleeds tend to occur following surgical or dental procedures. People with hemophilia C do not need regular clotting factor IVs.
• Hemophilia A and B is carried on the X chromosome so affects boys more than girls, but females can be carriers of the disease.
• Hemophilia A is the most common type of the disease affecting one in 5,000 boys, hemophilia B affects one in 25,000 boys and hemophilia C just one in 100,000.
• It’s estimated that there are around 20,000 people in the U.S. with the condition.
• Hemophilia C affects males and females equally.
• The disease is usually detected early in life, with severe cases usually diagnosed within a month and mild cases within the infant’s first 18 months.
• Complications from hemophilia include joint pain, arthritis, heart disease, kidney disease and hemorrhaging — particularly cranial hemorrhaging.

MORE: Prognosis and life expectancy for people with hemophilia.

Hemophilia News Today is strictly a news and information website about the disease. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website.