Haemophilia facts for kids
Haemophilia is a blood condition where bleeding does not stop easily. This happens because the blood cannot clot properly. People with haemophilia are missing special proteins in their blood that help form scabs and stop bleeding. If someone with haemophilia gets a small cut or an internal bleed (like a bruise), they could bleed for a very long time. They don't bleed more than other people, but their bleeding lasts much longer. The word "haemophilia" comes from two Greek words: haima, meaning "blood," and philia, meaning "to love." To help with this, a person with haemophilia can receive a blood donation from someone who doesn't have the condition. This donated blood has the missing clotting proteins, which can temporarily help the blood clot normally. About 30% of haemophilia A and B cases are the first in a family, caused by a new, unexpected change in the body's genes.
It usually affects males. It is passed from a mother to her child through genes.
Contents
What Are the Types of Haemophilia?
There are three main types of haemophilia:
- Haemophilia A: This is the most common type, making up about 90% of all cases. People with Haemophilia A have almost no ability for their blood to clot.
- Haemophilia B: This type is less severe and also much less common. People with Haemophilia B do not have enough blood clotting ability.
- Haemophilia C: This type is caused by two recessive (weaker) genes, not just one.
How Common is Haemophilia?
Haemophilia A affects about 1 in every 5,000 to 10,000 male births. Haemophilia B is less common, happening in about 1 in every 20,000 to 34,000 male births.
Why Does Haemophilia Affect Males More?
Haemophilia is a genetic condition linked to the X chromosome. Males have only one X chromosome, while females have two. If a male inherits a faulty gene on his X chromosome, he will have haemophilia. For females, if they inherit a faulty gene on one X chromosome, the normal gene on their other X chromosome usually makes up for it. This means females are often "carriers" of the gene but do not show symptoms themselves. The Y chromosome carries very few genes compared to the X chromosome. Conditions like this, linked to the X chromosome, are called "sex-linked" in genetics. There is no cure for haemophilia, but different treatments are available around the world to help manage the condition.
A person with haemophilia is sometimes called a haemophiliac.
Other Pages
Images for kids
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A woman with haemophilia
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Ryan White was an American boy with haemophilia who became infected with HIV/AIDS from blood products that were not safe.
See also
In Spanish: Hemofilia para niños
