Factor VIII Deficiency (Hemophilia A): How to Care for Your Child

People with hemophilia A don't have enough of a clotting factor called factor VIII (8). Clotting factors help stop bleeding. Treatments can help prevent bleeding and control it when it happens. Here's how to care for your child.

Follow your hemophilia care team's instructions for:

• Giving your child any medicine.

• Medicines to avoid because they can increase bleeding — for example, aspirin, ibuprofen, naproxen sodium, and other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).

• What sports and activities are OK for your child. Sports where they can fall or get hit can be dangerous.

• Talking to a genetic counselor about how hemophilia A can run in families.

If your child gets a bruise:

For the first 2 days after the bruise happens, your child should:

• Rest the area.

• Put an ice pack wrapped in a towel on the bruise for about 10 minutes every 2 hours.

• Raise the injured part above the level of the heart.

• Use an elastic bandage (the bandage should be snug but not tight).

If your child has a mild cut or scrape:

• Wash the wound with soap and water.

• Apply pressure with sterile gauze, a bandage, or a clean cloth.

If your child has a cut that is bleeding a lot:

• Apply pressure with sterile gauze, a bandage, or a clean cloth.

• Place another bandage or cloth over the first one and continue to apply pressure.

• If possible, raise the injured body part to slow bleeding.

• Call your care team right away.

Other reminders:

Have your child wear a medical ID bracelet that says they have hemophilia.

• Be sure that anyone who cares for your child (including teachers and coaches) knows what to do if your child gets injured and how to handle bleeding.

• Talk to your care team to see if your child needs to take any medicines before getting a medical procedure or going to the dentist.

• Help your child stay at a healthy weight so there isn't extra weight on their joints, which can increase the risk of bleeding.

 Your child has:

• bleeding that doesn't stop after holding pressure for 20 minutes

• a bruise that is getting bigger, is very painful, or lasts more than 2 weeks

• an injury to the head, chest, neck, or belly

• joint swelling or pain (this could be a sign of bleeding in the joint)

• swelling or pain of a muscle (this could be a sign of bleeding in the muscle)

Your care team will tell you whether you need to give factor replacement therapy (which gives the body the clotting factor it needs) or go to the doctor's office, hemophilia treatment center, or emergency room.

Your child has:

• a lot of bleeding 

• severe belly pain

• blood in the poop or throw-up, or black poop (these could be signs of bleeding into the gastrointestinal [GI] tract)

• a headache, confusion, vomiting, or dizziness (these could be signs of bleeding into the brain)

• red or tea-colored pee (this could be a sign of bleeding into the kidney or bladder)

• a serious accident, such as a fall or a car accident

How does hemophilia A happen? Hemophilia happens because of a gene change (mutation). Females carrying the changed gene can pass it to their children.

What are the symptoms of hemophilia A? Symptoms can range from mild to severe based on the amount of clotting factor in the blood. The lower the level of the clotting factor, the more likely the person is to have bleeding. Symptoms can include:

• easy bruising

• taking longer to stop bleeding after injuries, cuts, or surgeries

• bleeding into the joints, muscles, and other parts of the body after mild injury or without being injured at all

How is hemophilia A treated? Treatment depends on how severe the illness is and whether a person was injured and/or is bleeding. Treatment may include:

• replacing the factor VIII with medicine given through an IV (intravenous) line

• medicine given as a shot on a regular schedule to boost the body's production of clotting factor or to keep clots from breaking down too quickly