Hemophilia is a rare medical condition in which blood does not clot normally due to a lack of sufficient blood-clotting proteins in it. It is a genetic disorder and those who suffer from hemophilia bleed for a long time even after they just get a minor cut or after any kind of injury. If left untreated, this problem can be fatal as it can lead to bleeding in the brain.

The following article discusses the symptoms and treatment of hemophilia in kids.

Symptoms of hemophilia
The signs and symptoms of hemophilia can vary based on the level of clotting factors. If the child’s clotting-factor level is not very low, he or she is likely to bleed only after trauma and surgery as the condition is then classified as mild hemophilia. But, if his or her deficiency level is severe, they are likely to experience spontaneous bleeding.
Signs of spontaneous bleeding

• Excessive and unexplained bleeding from cuts or injuries
• It can include many large or deep bruises
• Unusual bleeding after vaccinations
• Pain, swelling, or tightness in the child’s joints
• Blood in their urine or stool
• Nosebleeds without a known cause
• In infants, unexplained irritability may be noticed

Bleeding into the brain
Among kids with symptoms of severe hemophilia, any simple bump on the head can cause bleeding into the brain. Though it rarely happens, it is one of the most serious complications among hemophilia patients. Some of the signs of this include:

• Painful, prolonged headache
• Repeated vomiting
• Sleepiness or lethargy
• Double vision
• Sudden weakness or clumsiness
• Convulsions or seizures

Treatments of hemophilia
The prime treatment procedure for hemophilia involves receiving replacements of the specific clotting factor. This is usually done through a tube placed in a vein. This replacement strategy can combat a bleeding episode that’s in progress. The therapy can also be administered on a regular basis at home as this helps in the prevention of any bleeding episodes. The replacement clotting factor can be obtained from donated blood too and medication-based recombinant clotting factors are also useful.
Other treatment procedures include the following:

• Hormone-based treatment
  In the case of mild hemophilia, various hormones can stimulate the body to release more clotting factors. Such hormones can be injected slowly into a vein or also administered as a nasal spray.
• Clot-preserving medications
  The clot-preserving medications help in the prevention of the clots from breaking down.
• Physical therapy
  In various cases, physical therapy can ease the signs and symptoms of hemophilia, making it an effective form of treatment. Such therapies are more apt if internal bleeding has damaged the joints. However, any severe damage may also need surgeries.
• First aid
  In case of minor injuries and cuts, the use of pressure and a bandage generally takes care of the bleeding. One can also use ice packs for any small areas of bleeding beneath the skin. Further, ice pops can also be used to slow down minor bleeding in the mouth.

All in all, the above are various symptoms and treatment of hemophilia. For children suffering from the condition, extra caution should be exercised when they play outside or undertake any physical exertion.