Understand the condition

A plain explanation of haemophilia A, B, and related disorders for families who just received a lab result.

What haemophilia is

Haemophilia means clotting factor VIII or IX is lower than normal because of a gene change. Blood still clots, but slower. Internal joint and muscle bleeds are the usual danger, not only cuts on the skin.

Severity — severe, moderate, mild — comes from how much factor is measured, not from how brave the child is.

Not every bleeding disorder is haemophilia

Von Willebrand disease, factor XI deficiency, platelet disorders, and acquired haemophilia need different tests and treatments. The assay name on your report matters.

Do not assume factor VIII will help if the report says something else.

Inherited versus acquired

Most childhood haemophilia is inherited. About one in three cases has no family history because the gene change is new.

Acquired haemophilia in older adults is an emergency specialist condition — different pathway entirely.

What happens next

Treatment centre referral, NHS registration, school plan, and inhibitor monitoring schedule for severe cases.

Read the types, symptoms, and treating a bleed pages on this site for depth, but let the centre personalise numbers to your child.

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.