Hemophilia occurs when your body lacks one of several clot-forming proteins called clotting factors. The result is prolonged bleeding.

Hemophilia is a bleeding disorder characterized by a deficiency of selected proteins in your blood-clotting system. Clotting is the process by which your blood changes from a liquid to a solid state in order to stop bleeding.

The clotting process makes use of blood particles called platelets and clot-forming proteins called clotting factors. Your blood has 13 clotting factors, identified by roman numerals, that are involved in the clotting process.

Hemophilia occurs in three types — A, B and C — depending on which clotting factor is deficient. All types can cause prolonged bleeding. If you have hemophilia and you have a cut, you'll bleed for a longer time than if your blood clotted normally. Small cuts usually aren't much of a problem. The greater problem is deep internal bleeding and bleeding into joints.

Treatment

Treatment of hemophilia varies depending on the severity of your condition:

• Mild hemophilia A. Your doctor may slowly inject the hormone desmopressin (DDAVP) into one of your veins to stimulate a release of more of your own clotting factor to stop the bleeding. Occasionally, desmopressin is given as a nasal medication.

• Severe hemophilia A or hemophilia B. Your bleeding may stop only after an infusion of clotting factor derived from donated human blood or from genetically engineered products called recombinant clotting factors. You may need repeated infusions if the internal bleeding is serious. Your doctor may also suggest preventive use of clotting factor to avoid bleeding episodes before they begin.

• Hemophilia C. You'll need plasma infusions to stop bleeding episodes.

Infusion of a clotting factor two or three times a week may help prevent bleeding. This approach may be a way to reduce time spent in the hospital and away from home, work, or school, and to limit side effects such as damage to joints. Your doctor can train you to do your own infusions of desmopressin or of the clotting factor at home, work or school.

If internal bleeding has damaged your joints, physical therapy can help them function better. Therapy can preserve their mobility and help prevent frozen or badly deformed joints. However, if you've had repeated bouts of bleeding into your joints that have damaged or destroyed your joints, you may need an artificial joint.

For minor cuts
If you or your child experiences a small cut or scrape, using pressure and a bandage will take care of the wound. For small areas of bleeding beneath the skin, use an ice pack.