Symptoms of haemophilia

Joint and muscle bleeds matter even when no blood is visible on the skin.

Bleeding you cannot see

Most serious bleeding in haemophilia is internal. A knee or elbow may swell, feel warm, and refuse to straighten while the skin looks normal.

Muscle bleeds can tighten a limb and press on nerves. Belly pain can mean internal bleeding. These are not situations to sleep off.

Bleeding you can see

Nosebleeds that last, bruises that appear with little cause, and bleeding that continues after a small cut or injection are common clues.

After dental extraction or surgery, bleeding may restart hours later when the first clot fails. That delay confuses families who thought the procedure went well.

• Large bruises with little trauma
• Bleeding after injections or tooth extraction
• Warm, swollen, or stiff joints
• Blood in urine or stool
• Heavy menstrual bleeding in women and girls

Head injury is always urgent

A bump on the head in a person with haemophilia needs emergency assessment even if they act normal at first. Do not wait for vomiting or sleepiness before you go.

Tell emergency staff that haemophilia is diagnosed or suspected. Show the report if you have it.

When symptoms do not fit a label

If bleeding pattern suggests another disorder — von Willebrand disease, platelet problems, or acquired haemophilia — the centre may order a wider panel. One test is not always enough.

This page is general information from Nepal Hemophilia Society. It is not a diagnosis or a treatment plan. A bleed, a head injury, or bleeding after an accident needs urgent hospital care. Ask your treatment centre before you change any treatment.