| You are working with young people...one of them | | | | life. They are able to work, play sport, travel, and |
| cuts himself. It's only a small cut but he is a | | | | anything else they choose. Obviously, it would be |
| haemophiliac...what happens now? | | | | extremely unwise of them to engage in employment |
| What is haemophilia? | | | | or activities that have a generally high rate of injury. |
| Haemophilia is a condition in which one or more of the | | | | As with anyone else, precautions should be taken |
| clotting factors in the blood is defective. It is an | | | | when engaging in activities such as horseriding, |
| hereditary condition and affects males more so than | | | | motorcycle riding and so forth. |
| females. This can cause excessive bleeding, | | | | Can haemophilia be treated? |
| particularly internal bleeding into the joints. | | | | It used to be common for a person with haemophilia |
| Can the sufferer bleed to death? | | | | to die young but, with the modern treatments |
| Many people believe that a haemophiliac will bleed to | | | | currently available, haemophiliacs can live a normal |
| death from the slightest injury but this is nothing | | | | lifespan. Internal bleeding is treated by the injection |
| more than a myth. Their cuts and scratches may | | | | of a clotting factor. This is normally done by a doctor |
| bleed a bit longer but, under normal circumstances, | | | | or at a hospital but people can be taught to |
| this will not be fatal. Obviously, as with anyone else, | | | | administer this themselves. Children who suffer |
| they may bleed to death from major injury. | | | | severe haemophilia are treated with a preventative |
| What is a 'bleed'? | | | | dose of blood clotting products to try to avoid |
| People who suffer from haemophilia bleed internally | | | | bleeds. |
| into the joints. This means that the blood remains in | | | | Basically, the condition of haemophilia is a genetic |
| the body but fills the cavities around the joints. This | | | | condition which affects mainly males. It is |
| can be treated by the injection of a clotting agent. | | | | characterised by internal bleeds that can be treated |
| Many people suffer from joint conditions such as | | | | by injections of a blood clotting factor into the |
| arthritis as a result of these 'bleeds'. | | | | bloodstream. It affects all races and socio-economic |
| How does haemophilia affect general lifestyle? | | | | groups. It can lead to arthritis and chronic pain |
| People with haemophilia can live a relatively normal | | | | because of the bleeding into the joints. |