Health department encourages haemophilia check-ups this month
There are 2 009 males with haemophilia A and 395 with haemophilia B in South Africa, according to a 2022 survey.
The health department is encouraging residents to undergo haemophilia check-ups this month.
Steve Biko and Dr George Mukhari academic hospitals have been listed as two of the four facilities in the province that are specialised to treat haemophilia.
The Gauteng health department commemorated World Haemophilia Day on April 17 under the theme “Equitable access for all: recognising all bleeding disorders”.
The department hopes that residents will use the month to gain knowledge of inherited blood disorders and practice prevention more than treatment in children and adults.
The common symptoms of haemophilia in infants include excessive bruising that takes weeks to heal, mouth bleeds, and bleeding into joints, soft tissues and muscles.
Haemophilia is an inherited disorder that prevents stable blood clotting.
Around 30% of boys with haemophilia may have no family history of the disorder, however, most mothers of these children will have a male relative on their maternal side who was born with it.
There are two types: haemophilia A, which is the most common, and is due to a deficiency of clotting factor 8 and; haemophilia B which is due to a deficiency in factor 9.
Haemophilia A affects one in 5 000 males and early treatment of minimises long-term complications.
The Annual Global Survey 2022 published by the World Federation of Haemophilia reported that there were 2 009 confirmed males with haemophilia A and 395 with haemophilia B in South Africa.
“When a person with haemophilia is injured, they will have prolonged bleeding as they do not have the factor that is needed to make a firm clot. Although small cuts on the skin are not usually a problem, however, bleeding into any deeper area of the body can be harmful,” the statement said.
“To ensure that there is no gap between diagnosis and treatment, the GDoH working with the Haemophilia Foundation has provided the necessary training to nursing staff in local clinics and regional hospitals to detect symptoms of haemophilia.
It is so that the patient can be referred to tertiary institutions for effective treatment.”
Benefits of early diagnosis and treatment include stopping bleeding, minimising long-term complications and preserving life.
The delay in treatment may be life- or limb-threatening.
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