World Hemophilia Day

April 17 is World Hemophilia Day — a day that not only aims to raise awareness about the condition but also expresses support and solidarity with those who face daily challenges living with hemophilia.

What is hemophilia and how can it be identified?

What are the modern approaches to treatment?

What is Hemophilia?

Hemophilia is a hereditary disorder in which the body lacks or has insufficient levels of certain blood clotting factors (most commonly Factor VIII or IX). As a result, bleeding after injury or surgery lasts longer than usual, and in some cases, life-threatening internal bleeding can occur.

The most common types are Hemophilia A (Factor VIII deficiency) and Hemophilia B (Factor IX deficiency). The condition primarily affects males, while females are typically carriers. Hemophilia is classified as a rare disease, with approximately 400,000 people living with the diagnosis worldwide. However, only a small percentage have access to proper diagnosis and treatment.

How to Recognize Hemophilia?

Symptoms of hemophilia often appear in childhood and are related to problems with bleeding.
Key symptoms include:

• Prolonged bleeding after cuts or tooth extractions

• Frequent nosebleeds

• Easy bruising from minor bumps

• Joint pain, swelling, and stiffness — especially in knees, elbows, and ankles, often due to internal joint bleeding

• Bleeding into muscles and soft tissues — causing pain, swelling, and sometimes numbness