Hemophilia is a rare medical condition, typically inherited, that develops if the body does not make enough protein (clotting factors) to form blood clots. This disorder can lead to spontaneous bleeding or excessive bleeding following an injury or surgery. The disorder is usually treated by regularly replacing the blood’s clotting factor. However, to receive timely treatment, it is important to keep an eye out for the following warning signs of hemophilia: 

1. Excessive external or internal bleeding
Bleeding may be of two kinds–internal or external. The severity of bleeding may differ from person to person; however, upon bleeding externally, one may observe the following signs here:

– Bleeding in the mouth and gums or bleeding that is difficult to stop after losing a tooth
– Bleeding after circumcision
– Unexplained nosebleeds
– Heavy bleeding, even from minor cuts
– Bleeding from a cut that resumes after a short pause

Internal bleeding can manifest as the following:

– Blood in the urine, as a result of bleeding in the bladder
– Blood in the stool due to stomach or intestinal bleeding
– Bleeding into the skin, muscle, or soft tissue, leading to the formation of bruises due to blood build-up in the area (also called hematoma)

2. Joint pain and swelling
Those with hemophilia may also experience bleeding in the knees, elbows, or other joints, even without any obvious injury. At its onset, the bleeding causes soreness or tightness in the joint but does not show any visible signs. This makes the joint inflamed, painful, and hot to the touch. As the bleeding continues, it impacts the joint’s range of motion. If left untreated, this could result in severe pain and damage to the joint.

3. Bleeding into the brain
Some people may also experience bleeding in the brain after a small bump or injury. Symptoms of bleeding in the brain include:

– Long-lasting painful headaches
– Pain or stiffness
– Repeated vomiting
– Drowsiness
– Changes in behavior
– Double vision
– Sudden fatigue or weakness in the arms and legs, leading to issues with walking
– Convulsions or seizures

Types of hemophilia
Depending on the symptoms and level of clotting factors in the blood, hemophilia may be classified into the following types:

Mild hemophilia: Those with mild hemophilia have 6-49% of the normal factor and generally experience bleeding only after serious trauma, surgery, or injury. They may not experience their first bleeding episode well into adulthood.

Moderate hemophilia: Those with 1–6% of the normal clotting factor level are diagnosed with moderate hemophilia. They may experience bleeding episodes after injuries, trauma, or surgery. They may also have spontaneous bleeding episodes, that is, bleeding with no underlying cause.

Severe hemophilia: Those diagnosed with severe hemophilia have less than 1% of the clotting factor and experience frequent episodes of spontaneous bleeding.

As the presence of clotting factors is governed by genetics, the severity of hemophilia does not change over time. While there is no cure for the condition, medical treatment can help manage the condition. So, one should keep an eye out for the abovementioned warning signs in an infant, as this can help one receive a diagnosis and treatment plan as soon as possible.