What is Hemophilia

Hemophilia is a genetically inherited bleeding disorder that impairs the body’s ability to control blood clotting, which is used to stop bleeding when a blood vessel is damaged. Hemophilia A is the most common form of the disorder, present in about 1 in 5,000–10,000 male births. Hemophilia is present in around 1 in about 20,000–34,000 male births.

Hemophilia lowers the blood plasma clotting factor levels needed for a regular clotting process. Thus when a blood vessel is wounded, a temporary scab does form, but the missing coagulation factors prevent fibrin formation, which is necessary to maintain the blood clot. A Hemophiliac does not bleed more intensely than a person without it, but can bleed for a much longer time. In severe Haemophiliacs even a minor injury can result in blood loss lasting days or weeks, or even never healing completely. In areas such as the brain or inside joints, this can be fatal or permanently debilitating.