HealthInfo Canterbury
Treating haemophilia
Te whakarauora i te matenga toto tepe-kore
If you have haemophilia, the aim of the treatment is to reduce your risk of prolonged bleeding. Bleeding can be controlled by injections of a clotting factor medicine.
Clotting factor medicines are very concentrated and designed to control bleeding.
You need to be treated as soon as possible to stop the bleeding and prevent long-term damage.
Most clotting factor medicines are made using genetic engineering to create artificial products that contain no human blood components. But some bleeding disorders need medication made from donated human blood.
There are two main approaches to treatment, depending on how severe your condition is.
Preventative therapy
People with severe haemophilia need preventative treatment (prophylaxis). You get regular injections of clotting factor medicine to help prevent episodes of bleeding and prevent joint and muscle damage.
Preventative therapy aims to keep the levels of clotting factor in your blood high enough that clots can form easily if a bleed occurs. Preventative therapy gives children with severe haemophilia the best chance to grow up without damage to their joints.
On-demand therapy
In mild or moderate cases, treatment for haemophilia may only be necessary if you're bleeding. It's essential to get treatment early so there is less chance of long-term damage and disruption to daily life.
If you're treating a bleed, you should:
- inject the clotting factor medicine as soon as possible
- contact your haemophilia centre to arrange for an appointment to see your nurse or physiotherapist
- start to follow the P.R.I.C.E regimen (Protection, Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation).
- Protection: protect your joint by not putting weight on it for at least 48 hours and possibly longer if it's a heavy bleed. Use crutches or other support.
- Rest: completely rest the affected area to let the swelling ease and prevent further bleeding. But remember, too much rest can also be damaging, so start to move the joint gently within one to two days of treatment.
- Ice: applying ice helps to reduce swelling, prevent further bleeding and ease pain. Don't put ice directly on your skin as it can burn. Instead use a gel cold pack or make a cold pack from a bag of frozen peas or crushed ice wrapped in a cloth. Apply to the affected area for around 10 to 15 minutes every two hours.
- Compression: apply pressure and a bandage to the affected area to reduce swelling and pain. Your physiotherapist can provide you with an elasticated bandage and will make sure it fits properly. A bandage that fits too tightly can cause more damage. Try not to let the bandage get wrinkled and take it off at night.
- Elevation: raise the injured area above the level of your heart. This increases blood flow away from the injured area and reduces swelling and pain. When you elevate your leg, take the bandage off to allow for normal circulation. Elevate for about 20 minutes at a time.
Managing pain
You'll need treatment to manage pain, as swelling caused by bleeds, especially in the joints, can be extremely painful. You need to avoid aspirin and most non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen as they suppress platelet function and reduce blood clotting. Talk to your general practice team or pharmacist before trying any pain medication to discuss possible side effects.
Physiotherapy
Physiotherapy after a bleed helps with recovery from internal bleeding that may have damaged your joints. Your physiotherapist will give you good exercises to get your muscles and joints working again.
Content shared between HealthInfo Canterbury, KidsHealth and Health Navigator NZ as part of a National Health Content Hub collaborative. Last reviewed May 2023.
SourcesReview key: HIBLD-52881
