A rare condition that leads to ineffective blood clotting is referred to as hemophilia. Usually, our body contains clotting factors, which are proteins that work on clotting the blood to prevent excessive bleeding after an injury. In people with hemophilia, these factors are produced in lower quantities, leaving them prone to excessive bleeding that can prove fatal.

Here are some of the symptoms and effective treatment methods for hemophilia:

1. Symptoms of hemophilia
Learning about the symptoms and treatment of hemophilia can facilitate early diagnosis and timely treatment before the condition becomes severe. Hemophilia symptoms usually include easy bruising and excessive bleeding, but their severity is determined by the extent of the deficiency of the essential blood clotting factors in one’s body. The common symptoms of hemophilia include the following:

• Excessive internal bleeding
• Excessive external bleeding caused by a minor injury, bite, or cut
• Sudden and recurring nosebleeds
• Blood in stools or urine, or deep or large bruises that indicate internal bleeding
• Swelling, pain, and difficulty moving the joints due to bleeding in the joints
• Bleeding in the brain due to hemophilia, which can be identified by a bump on the head
• Headache, changes in behavior, vomiting, problems with vision, seizures, paralysis, lethargy, and clumsiness due to bleeding in the brain.

2. Effective treatment options for hemophilia
The treatment options for hemophilia patients depend on the severity of the symptoms. Usually, the treatment plan combines two approaches, namely, preventive treatment and on-demand treatment. Let’s look at both of these:

• Preventive treatment approaches
  Usually, severe hemophilia requires a preventive treatment approach, which can include injecting the missing or deficient clotting factors into the body. In the case of children, the parents are trained to inject the medication, and adults can self-inject the medication to prevent hemophilia symptoms from flaring up. Also, it can help patients avoid regular hospital visits.
  Hemophilia B patients are administered nonacog alfa injections to prevent bleeding. Sometimes, hemophilia patients are also recommended a device known as an implantable port that contains the injections and can be surgically placed under the skin. The port is placed near the heart and connects to a blood vessel so that the patient does not have to search for a vein each time the injection is needed. Patients on preventive treatment must regularly follow up with their doctors to keep a check on their progress.
• On-demand treatment approach
  If the severity of the condition ranges between mild and moderate, treatment is only required to control and prevent excessive bleeding when it occurs. Patients with hemophilia A are given octocog alfa injections for effective on-demand treatment. Alternatively, patients may be administered a medication known as desmopressin, which is a synthetic hormone that works by stimulating clotting factor VIII production.