hemophilia

 

    

 17 April 2013: World Hemophilia DayWorld Hemophilia Day was observed on 17 April 2013 across the world. The day is observed to advocate for the global efforts to ensure appropriate care and treatment of diseases, which are the oldest known genetic bleeding disorders caused by Genetic Deficiency.

50 Years of Advancing Treatment for All has been decided as the theme for the year 2013. The World Federation of Hemophilia (WFH) and the global community have worked together, for over a period of past 50 years, to improve care and treatment for inherited bleeding disorders.

17 April is observed as the World Hemophilia Day every year across the world. Hemophilia generally is a blood disorder that effects a huge population across the world. The disease is generally transmitted to the daughter from his father at the time of birth, who further becomes the carrier of hemophilia cells of the defected gene to her children.

This is a non-curable disease but can be handled, if treated finely. World Hemophilia Day aims to increase awareness of this disease and other bleeding disorders as well as where we have been, where we want to go, and that together, we can close the gap in care. Hemophilia B is the second most common kind of bleeding disorder, also termed as factor IX deficiency.

Reality of the Hemophilia
75 percent of the people suffering from the disease across the world receive inadequate treatment or no treatment at all. The percentage of the people suffering from the disorder is higher than the Von Willebrand disorder and rare factor deficiencies.

What Is Hemophilia?

Hemophilia (heem-o-FILL-ee-ah) is a rare bleeding disorder in which the blood doesn't clot normally.
If you have hemophilia, you may bleed for a longer time than others after an injury. You also may bleed inside your body (internally), especially in your knees, ankles, and elbows. This bleeding can damage your organs and tissues and may be life threatening.

Overview

Hemophilia usually is inherited. "Inherited” means that the disorder is passed from parents to children through genes.
People born with hemophilia have little or no clotting factor. Clotting factor is a protein needed for normal blood clotting. There are several types of clotting factors. These proteins work with platelets (PLATE-lets) to help the blood clot.
Platelets are small blood cell fragments that form in the bone marrow—a sponge-like tissue in the bones. Platelets play a major role in blood clotting. When blood vessels are injured, clotting factors help platelets stick together to plug cuts and breaks on the vessels and stop bleeding.
The two main types of hemophilia are A and B. If you have hemophilia A, you're missing or have low levels of clotting factor VIII (8). About 9 out of 10 people who have hemophilia have type A. If you have hemophilia B, you're missing or have low levels of clotting factor IX (9).
Rarely, hemophilia can be acquired. "Acquired” means you aren't born with the disorder, but you develop it during your lifetime. This can happen if your body forms antibodies (proteins) that attack the clotting factors in your bloodstream. The antibodies can prevent the clotting factors from working.
This article focuses on inherited hemophilia.

Outlook

Hemophilia can be mild, moderate, or severe, depending on how much clotting factor is in your blood. About 7 out of 10 people who have hemophilia A have the severe form of the disorder.
People who don't have hemophilia have a factor VIII activity of 100 percent. People who have severe hemophilia A have a factor VIII activity of less than
1 percent.
Hemophilia usually occurs in males (with rare exceptions). About 1 in 5,000 males are born with hemophilia each year.

Other Names for Hemophilia

Hemophilia A                              

• Classic hemophilia
• Factor VIII deficiency

Hemophilia B

• Christmas disease
• Factor IX deficiency

 for more infor mation go to http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/health-topics/topics/hemophilia/causes.html
http://www.haemophilia.org.za/