- India, France, Iran and Mexico rank first globally in terms of the number of hemophilia patients.
- According to the WHO, one in 10,000 people suffers from this rare bleeding disorder.
- World Hemophilia Day is commemorated every April 17.
Hemophilia is the rare disease with the highest incidence in the world and that is why it is worth talking about its symptoms. Only in Mexico it is estimated that there are 6 thousand patients. While worldwide one in 10 thousand people are born with this disorder.
The specialist attached to the Hematology Service of Hospital Juárez de México, Carolina Flor Cruz Garciaannounced that figures of the World Hemophilia Registry show that, globally, one million 225 thousand people suffer from this disease. In fact, India, France, Iran and Mexico occupy the first places in terms of the number of patients.
World Hemophilia Day is commemorated every April 17 and one of the objectives is to give visibility to this rare bleeding disorder that can be hereditary or acquired. There are two types: A, due to a factor VIII protein deficiency and is present in 85 percent of cases; and B due to insufficiency of coagulation factor IX.
world day of #Hemophilia | He #IMSS It has hemostatic agents as treatment. pic.twitter.com/eRxph0aDjw
— IMSS (@Your_IMSS) April 17, 2023
Acquired hemophilia occurs when the body produces antibodies that attack and inactivate factor VIII. The severity depends on the amount of this protein in the blood, in such a way that the lower the percentage of protein, the greater the probability of bleeding.
This condition is caused by changes in the X chromosome, which causes women to only be carriers and men to suffer from the disease.
Main symptoms of hemophilia
Frequent internal and external bleeding in the mouth, gums, nostrils, muscles, soft tissues, joints, elbows, ankles, and shoulders, causing bruising, swelling, and pain.
It is possible to identify the disease between seven and 10 months, when babies have bleeding in the knees and elbows when crawling. If left untreated, over time people bleed just by walking.
Treatment is based on intramuscular injections of donated or laboratory-created human blood clotting factor replacement, given regularly to prevent severe bleeding episodes. Adequate control of the disease allows to live up to 75 years or more.
Cruz Garcia said that the severe hemorrhages can lead the patient to have motor disability and even die. The bleeding remains within the body and is reabsorbed after ten to fifteen days; however, when this does not happen, factor replacement should be applied to the patient continuously to avoid joint damage.
He pointed out that the hemophilia, being a hereditary disease, cannot be prevented and those who suffer from it should avoid practicing contact sports such as soccer, martial arts, basketball, among others, because blows can cause severe internal bleeding.
Finally, he recommended not to use medications such as aspirin, ibuprofen, or diclofenacsince they alter the platelet function of this sector of the population.
Also read:
Acquired hemophilia, curable only if identified and treated in time
World Hemophilia Day: Current symptoms and treatments
How should prophylaxis be in patients with hemophilia?