Haemophilia is a rare genetic blood disorder that affects the bloods ability to clot properly. It is usually inherited and most people who have it are male. Haemophilia is caused by a mutation or change in one of the genes that provides instructions for making the clotting factor proteins needed to form a blood clot. People with haemophilia have low levels of either factor VIII (8) or factor IX (9) . The severity of haemophilia that a person has is determined by the amount of factor in the blood. The lower the amount of the factor, the more likely it is that bleeding will occur which can lead to serious health problems.

Symptoms of haemophilia can be mild to severe, depending on the level of clotting factors a person has. The main symptom is bleeding that does not stop. People with haemophilia may have spontaneous bleeding as well as bleeding following injuries or surgery. Bleeding can occur in the joints, muscles, and internal organs, and can be life-threatening. Other symptoms of haemophilia include bruising easily, prolonged bleeding after a cut or injury, and blood in the urine or stool.

The best way to treat haemophilia is to replace the missing blood clotting factor so that the blood can clot properly. This is done by infusing commercially prepared factor concentrates through a vein. People with haemophilia can learn how to perform these infusions themselves so that they can stop bleeding episodes and, by performing the infusions on a regular basis, prevent most bleeding episodes.

In summary, haemophilia is a rare genetic blood disorder that affects the bloods ability to clot properly. It is usually inherited and most people who have it are male. Symptoms of haemophilia can be mild to severe, and the best way to treat it is to replace the missing blood clotting factor.