7 Warning Signs of Hemophilia

7 Warning Signs of Hemophilia

Hemophilia is a blood disorder that is mostly inherited. It is a condition in which the blood does not clot due to the lack of clotting factors (clotting proteins). And since the blood doesn’t clot properly, spontaneous bleeding can appear, especially after surgery or injuries. Let’s have a look at the early warning signs of hemophilia.

Nosebleeds
Nosebleeds occur in hemophilia because of carriers of the gene. They often accompany normal clotting levels due to which the nose bleeds. Nosebleeds, in the case of hemophilia, can be treated at home. You can slightly pinch the nose at the bridge. Additionally, you can tilt your head forward and put an ice pack on the nose.

Blood in urine
When urinating, if you see blood in your urine, it could be one of the early warning signs of hemophilia. The same could also occur in the bladder and kidneys. More specifically, it is a sign of internal bleeding.

Bleeding in the joints
In case of joints bleeding, you would first experience tightness in your joints. At this stage, you might not even feel the pain. They would then become painful, swollen, and hot, and you would not be able to bend them. Next, the bleeding would occur, and you might lose movement temporarily.

Excessive nausea and vomiting
Hemophilia can lead to intracranial hemorrhage, which means bleeding in the skull or brain. This further leads to vomiting, lethargy, or nausea. In some cases, the bleeding in the skull or the brain can also lead to death.

Headache
One of the early warning signs of hemophilia is a headache, which is extremely painful and prolongs for a long period of time. This could be a sign of severe hemophilia where a simple bump on the head can lead to internal bleeding in your brain. Although this happens rarely, it is one of the complications of hemophilia.

High irritability
Again, a high level of irritability is one of the early warning signs of hemophilia. This sign is most common in children who may get hemophilia at the age of 2. Hemophilia leads to factor deficiency because of which children may bleed when trauma occurs. And, this bleeding may arise out of no specific reason. This is also termed as spontaneous bleeding, which can cause unexplained irritability in children.

Other early warning signs
Some of the other warning signs may include unexplained bruises, bleeding in stool, and gums, where proper medical assistance is needed.

If your bleeding does not stop after an injury or you feel that your joints are swollen and hot to touch or you see any signs of brain bleeding, immediately seek medical assistance. Also, if you have a family history of hemophilia, you and your spouse or children should preferably undergo genetic testing.