Diagnosis of hemophilia is rather straight forward. As symptoms include excessive bleeding, blood in the urine or black stool,swollen joints, poor or slow clotting cuts and other injuries to blood vessels, it's soon apparent whether someone has hemophilia. Most diagnoses are made during the first few month of life, especially when infants begin teething. After symptoms appear, a blood test will reveal any chromosomal abnormalities that would indicate whether or not a child has hemophilia.
The abnormal bleeding associated with hemophilia creates unexpected and perhaps more dangerous complications. Joints are especially vulnerable, as continued movement causes wear and tear of ligaments. Excessive bleeding within the joints could cause arthritis or crippling deformities. Bleeding in muscles and tissues puts extreme pressure on the nerves, causing pain and reducing sensation with the potential for permanent nerve damage. Even accidentally biting your tongue could cause swelling that would impair breathing. A slight bump on the head could lead to subdural hematoma.
Though there are different levels of hemophilia ranging from mild to severe, the consequences of what anyone else might determine as an "accident" can be potentially life-endangering. In my next post I'll talk a little bit about treatment, and then I'll delve more into the personal aspects of having hemophilia.
Sources:
"Hemophilia." American Medical Association Complete Medical Encyclopedia. 2003.EBSCOHost. Web. 13 Feb. 2014.
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