Hemophilia in Children

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Apr 2, 2024.

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Hemophilia is a bleeding disorder caused by a problem in your blood's ability to form a clot. Hemophilia causes your child to bleed more and longer than normal. Certain blood cells and substances normally form clots and stop your child from bleeding too much. These include platelets, clotting factors, vitamin K, and fibrinogen. Platelets are a type of blood cell that helps form blood clots. Clotting factors are proteins that work with platelets to clot the blood. Hemophilia usually occurs only in boys.

DISCHARGE INSTRUCTIONS:

You have the right to help plan your child's care. Learn about your child's health condition and how it may be treated. Discuss treatment options with your child's healthcare providers to decide what care you want for your child.

Replacement therapy:

Certain blood components, called factor concentrates, may be given to your child. They replace the missing clotting factor in your child's blood. Replacement clotting factor is given so that your child's blood will be able to clot and to stop any bleeding. Clotting factor can come from human blood or be artificial. You may be taught how to give clotting factor to your child at home.

• Demand therapy: Your child receives clotting factor to stop a bleeding episode.
• Preventive therapy: Treatment is given to prevent future bleeding episodes. This therapy is often used to prevent injury to your child's joints. Your child may be started on this therapy as early as 1 to 2 years of age, or after one or more joint bleeds. With severe hemophilia, these factor concentrates may be given regularly. If your child has hemophilia A, he or she may receive this treatment 3 times a week or every other day. If your child has hemophilia B, he or she may receive treatment 2 times a week.

Activity:

• Exercise: Your child must exercise regularly and stay at a healthy weight to help build stronger muscles. Exercise also helps keep your child's muscles flexible and can help prevent damage to muscles and joints. Always check with your child's healthcare provider before your child starts any exercise program.
• Sports: Your child can play sports, but the severity of his or her hemophilia may limit the type of sports he or she can play. Do not let your child play contact sports, such as football and basketball. Contact sports increase your child's risk for bruising and bleeding. Talk to your child's healthcare provider about the best sports and activities for your child.

Manage your child's hemophilia:

• Dental care: Keep your child's teeth and gums healthy. Ask your child's healthcare provider if certain therapies or medicines should be given to your child when his or her teeth get cleaned. The amount of his or her clotting factor may also need to be increased before he or she has dental procedures. Talk with your child's healthcare provider before your child has any dental work.
• Vaccines: Take your child to his or her healthcare provider for vaccinations. He or she may need vaccines for hepatitis A and B. Ask your child's healthcare provider which vaccinations are right for your child.
• Injury protection: You will need to protect your child from injuries that can cause bleeding. Young children who are learning to walk can fall and hit hard items. You may need to pad hard items in your home during this period. Protect your child when he or she is riding in a car by always having him or her in a car seat, or use a seatbelt. Your child should always wear a helmet if he or she rides a bicycle or does other activities where he or she could get a head injury. He or she may also need to wear knee and elbow pads to protect his or her joints from injury during activities.
• Prepare for bleeding episodes: Have the supplies ready that you may need to treat a bleeding episode when your child has one. Have your healthcare providers help you prepare a written emergency plan for how to handle your child's bleeding episodes. The plan should cover care for your child at home and school, and what to do if he or she has to go to the hospital.
• Learn more about hemophilia: The more you know about hemophilia, the better you will be able to help your child. Ask how you can learn more about your child's condition.

Home treatment for bleeding episodes:

Use the following first aid steps as the first treatment for any bleeding episode. You and anyone else who cares for your child must know how to do first aid if your child starts bleeding. If these measures do not stop the bleeding, other treatments will be needed. The following may reduce bleeding and decrease pain:

• Rest: Have your child sit or lie quietly until the bleeding episode ends.
• Ice: Ice helps decrease swelling and pain. Ice may also help prevent tissue damage. Use an ice pack, or put crushed ice in a plastic bag. Cover it with a towel and place it on the area for 15 to 20 minutes.
• Compression: Apply pressure to the bleeding site. A bleeding joint can be wrapped with tape or an elastic bandage. Ask for more information about elastic bandages.
• Elevation: Position your child so the bleeding area of his or her body is raised. Raise the area above the level of his or her heart if possible. Prop the area on pillows to keep it elevated comfortably.

Medical alert identification:

Your school-aged child will need to wear a medical alert jewelry or carry a card that says he or she has hemophilia. Ask your child's healthcare provider where to get these items.

Hemophilia treatment centers:

Your child may be referred to a hemophilia treatment center in your area. These are clinics that provide care to people with hemophilia and other bleeding disorders. Ask if your child should receive treatment at this type of center.

For support and more information:

• National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute
  Health Information Center
  P.O. Box 30105
  Bethesda , MD 20824-0105
  Phone: 1- 301 - 592-8573
  Web Address: http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/infoctr/index.htm
  

• CDC National Center on Birth Defects & Developmental Disabilities, Blood Disorders
  1600 Clifton Rd
  Atlanta , GA 30333
  Phone: 1- 800 - 232-4636
  Web Address: http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/hbd/default.htm
  

Contact your child's healthcare provider if:

• You or your child cannot make it to his or her next visit.
• Your child feels very tired and weak.
• Your child has chills or a fever.
• Your child has nausea, is vomiting, or has a severe headache.
• You have questions or concerns about your child's condition or care.

Return to the emergency department if:

• Your child has a head injury or a seizure.
• Your child has bleeding from an injury to his or her throat, neck, or eyes.
• Your child has a bleeding episode that cannot be controlled.
• Your child has chest pain or trouble breathing.
• Your child has many large bruises on his or her body, or swelling in his or her joints.
• Your child has joint pain that lasts longer than 3 days.
• Your child has severe hemophilia and has pain in the lower part of his or her stomach, groin, or lower back.
• Your child is vomiting blood or has blood in his or her bowel movement.

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