8/4/2022
Haemophilia: Becoming Haemo-aware
By Godfrey Ekisa Osang’ir No-doubt the central nature of blood functions in the human bodies cannot be underestimated, nor overemphasized, as the red fluid defines the health and life of every soul that is alive. Blood has many functions one of which is to ensure a well regulated balance between bleeding, forming a stable clot and the body breaking down this clot to prevent blockage of blood vessels; a process called hemostasis. Hemophilia is an inherited bleeding disorder that results in those affected having low levels of clotting factors that are important to avoid prolonged bleeding. Hemophilia A is more common and these patients have clotting factor 8 deficiency whereas Hemophilia B which is less common; patients have factor IX deficiency. Hemophilia can also be acquired where patients develop antibodies to the clotting factors therefore resulting in bleeding. There are other bleeding disorders such as von Willebrands disease. Hemophilia has a male predominance due to how it is
PHOTO |NICHOLAS WAMALWA Circumscision procedure of the Haemophilic patient being performed by a team of proffesionals led by Consultant Urologists - Dr. James Ikol and Consultant Paediatrics - Dr. Peter Muika
PHOTO | STEVE MUTUKU Dr. Victoria Kithinji- Medical Officer prepairing a haemophilic patient for Factor Infusion procedure
inherited (X-linked recessive pattern) and women are mostly carriers meaning they have one X chromosome with the abnormal gene and the other is normal therefore they do not manifest with disease. People living with hemophilia are at high risk of spontaneous bleeds mostly into the joints such as the knees, elbows and ankles
ISSUE 7 | Kenyatta National Hospital Newsline
or prolonged bleeding and bruising during physical activities. This may also manifest with prolonged bleeding after minor procedures like tooth extraction. Life threatening bleeds can also result such as bleeding into the brain, vomiting blood or bleeding into the throat or neck which can result in breathing difficulties.
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