Hemophilia is a bleeding disorder caused by a deficiency in one of the proteins involved in the blood clotting process. Children with hemophilia can experience prolonged bleeding either externally or internally (into soft tissues and joints). Children with hemophilia do not bleed faster than everyone else, only longer. Hemophilia is diagnosed through blood tests and family history. It is treated by giving your child medication as directed, monitoring your child’s growth and development, and keeping your child safe.

Children with hemophilia can bleed spontaneously (no known cause) or as a result of trauma. All bleeds cannot be prevented. Watch for all forms of bleeding:

• Nosebleeds (see Nosebleed Care Card)
• Mouth Bleeds – obvious bleeding from gums, bruising on gums, swelling on gums
• Soft Tissue Bleeds – a bruise that gets bigger in size, pain, redness or warmth in affected area
• Muscle Bleeds – “a tight feeling” in the injured muscle, warmth, swelling, pain, favoring the limb or limping
• Joint Bleeds – tingling or pain in joint (most commonly in ankles, knees, elbows), redness, warmth, swelling, decreased movement

 You can decrease your child’s risk of bleeding by:

• Avoiding products that containing aspirin or ibuprofen.
• Avoiding hard contact sports such as football or boxing.
• Always notifying your child’s hemophilia nurse or doctor before having any dental procedure or surgery.
• Avoiding intramuscular injections, except immunizations.

Call your child’s hemophilia nurse or doctor immediately at (816) 234-3265 (Monday through Friday 8 am – 5 pm) or (816) 234-3000 after hours and holidays, ask to have the hematology/oncology nurse or doctor-on-call paged if your child:

• gets hit on the head, neck or abdomen.
• vomits blood.
• has blood in the urine or stool.
• has mood or personality change.
• has a change in level of consciousness or visual disturbances.
• has seizures.
• has a nosebleed that does not stop after 15 minutes of pressure and ice. (See Nosebleed Care Card)
• has difficulty breathing, swallowing or has pain in the neck or throat.
• or if you have any questions or concerns.

Children's Mercy Hospitals and Clinics

Kansas City,Missouri                                                       Overland Park,Kansas

Care cards are provided as a public education service. The information does not replace instructions your physician gives you. If you have questions about your child's care, please call your physician.

Estas instruccions son provistas como un servicio educacional. La information no sustituye las instrucciones de su medico. Si tiene preguntas encuanto al duidado de su niño, por favor llame a su medico.