Haemophilia is several inherited diseases in which normal blood clotting is impaired. Haemophilia is an hereditary condition passed on by the mother who is not herself affected although all her male children are afflicted, and her daughters carry the same latent fault which they pass on to their own children. It used to be thought that no female could be affected but this is not so. Girls may in fact suffer from haemophilia. Trivial injuries produce gross haemorrhage and even the normal wear and tear on the joints is sometimes accompanied by tremendous haemarthrosis (blood in the joint).
Haemophilia is known to be due to an absence of certain clotting factors and is incurable. 'Closed' haemorrhage - that is haemorrhage under the skin or into an internal organ or joint - is usually self-limiting. A large haematoma results and in the case of a joint the haemarthrosis leads to stiffening and deformity. Surgical operation for any condition in a haemophiliac is extremely hazardous but blood transfusion improves the clotting power of the blood for a few days. Sooner or later almost every sufferer from haemophilia requires blood transfusion which has the dual effect of replacing lost blood and adding factors which produce clotting at the site of bleeding. In haemophilia, the usual methods of blood control by pressure, heat or chemicals are completely ineffective and the only local application which is of value is the venom from a particular species of adder, Russell's viper. This substance is supplied as a dry powder in glass ampoules and is useful for controlling the bleeding from small areas such as a tooth socket. A solution is made with water and applied on a small cotton wool swab. Research Haemophilia
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Medicine
Research Haemophilia