Hemophilia is a disorder in which one’s blood doesn’t clot normally. Injuries due to various reasons can lead to excessive blood loss and major complications in people with this condition. The blood disorder can develop due to an inherited mutation or can be acquired later. The severity is determined by the extent of the deficiency of clotting factors (Factor VIII and Factor IX), and the intensity of the symptoms differs accordingly.

Immediate medical attention is necessary to manage the early warning signs of hemophilia:

1. Nosebleeds
This is one of the hard-to-miss early warning signs of hemophilia. Nosebleeds could occur due to various health conditions, but external bleeding without a definitive cause could indicate hemophilia and needs medical attention at the earliest to prevent serious complications.

2. Severe bleeding
Healthy individuals only experience mild bleeding with small cuts, and this stops soon as the blood clots. However, if the bleeding doesn’t stop or if one experiences excessive bleeding even from a tiny cut or a small injury, it could be a symptom of hemophilia. Along with heavy bleeding, recurrent bleeding is also an early warning sign of hemophilia. It happens when bleeding stops after a short period, but it may occur again some time later.

3. Bloody stools
Internal bleeding can be identified through various signs, and the blood may come out are along with urine or stools. Internal bleeding often results in dark-colored stools. Also, an individual should consult a doctor for guidance about the next steps if their urine has blood contents as it could indicate bleeding in the kidneys.

4. Bruises
Some people don’t experience visible bleeding, but internal bleeding or even the possibility of too many unexplained bruises could indicate hemophilia. If one notices sudden bruises occurring in spots where there was no injury, and if there seem to be several such strange, large bruises that are possibly deep, they should also check for other early warning signs of hemophilia. These bruises may point toward bleeding in the large muscles.

5. Brain bleeds
People with hemophilia can experience bleeding in and around the brain for an unknown reason or due to an injury. A minor head injury or even a small bump can lead to internal bleeding in the brain, and this severe symptom of hemophilia can also have long-term side effects.

If one is in a high-risk group for hemophilia, it’s advisable to keep a close eye on these early warning signs of the disease. There are two types of hemophilia depending on the clotting factor that malfunctions or is deficient. Although the symptoms might be similar for both these types, recognizing them can help patients facilitate early diagnosis and get proper treatment at the right time to keep serious complications at bay.