Anuj is a typical 10 year old boy, he loves to play cricket and is a pretty good batsman. His friends are amazed at how well he plays and he is all set to become the captain of the junior team at his school. But Anuj's parents are not too happy with his decision, they worry that he will hurt himself while playing. Why you ask? Anuj has a blood clotting disorder called Haemophilia. It is a disorder that is caused by the mutation of a particular gene, leading to a deficiency in the factors required for blood clotting. There are basically two types of haemophiliaType A and Type B. Type A is the most common type of haemophilia. Inheritance is linked to the X chromosome ,therefore, males are affected while females are carriers.
A child is born with the disorder and as of now there is no cure for this condition. Parents usually tend to prevent the child from playing any games or interacting with other kids, because they fear for the child's safety. It is true that if a child with hemophilia gets hurt, he could bleed internally causing more damage that normal children, but that is no reason to isolate the child. Keeping him away from his peers can have a devastating effect on the child's social skills and all round health.
While taking care of a child with the condition can be tough, there are a number of things that a parent can do to keep their child safe yet free of restriction.
Parents can help their child live with haemophilia by helping them live a healthy life. Make them realize that exercise is not the enemy, and is in fact an important part of a his health. Exercise strengthens the muscles and helps decrease bleeding due to injuries. You could try to get your child to start swimming as a form of exercise. It is a good sport because it exercises all the muscle groups without putting stress on the joints.
Make sure your child maintains a healthy weight. Being overweight can be very harmful as it increases the risk of internal bleeding by putting excess stress on the body. Therefore, ensure you feed your child the right foods and help him get enough exercise.
Be his friend, not his parent. Most doctors say that the toddler to teenage years for a child are the most daunting as this is when they are seeking independence. In such a case teach your child the importance of being open with you about any trouble he might be having. In some cases a child may not tell you about a fall or bump if he fears you. Instilling confidence in them that you are there to help, will help him communicate with you openly. An untreated injury could cause a lot of pain and discomfort to a child, therefore it is essential that he get immediate treatment in such a case.
Know that he can play like other kids: There is no need to keep your child away from sports or playing with other kids, you just have to ensure that he is given a different role in the game, for example he could be a score keeper during a game of cricket.
Baby proof your home: Caring for infants can be really tough, especially when they are learning to crawl or walk. A good idea would be to line your childs clothes around their knees and elbows with a little bit of cotton. You could even stitch a small pocket into the garment and fill it with cotton. This will help cushion the baby's knees and elbows if they fall. Another good preventive measure would be to baby proof your home. Use carpets on hard floors and cover all sharp corners with some soft padding.
Dental care: Dental care is very essential in every child's life, so when you choose a dentist make sure he/she has worked with such kids before. Even cleaning the teeth could lead to bleeding, therefore a careful hand is important.
Treat any bleeds: Bleeds must be treated promptly because prolonged bleeding can cause joint problems. The accumulation of blood in the joint spaces can erode the smooth surfaces that allow limbs to bend easily. As the surfaces roughen, inflammation and the number of bleeds can increase. This cycle can lead to chronic joint damage that may require surgery to remove the damaged joint tissue . If your child is injured, make sure you visit your doctor as soon as possible. An injury should be treated immediately. If your child is in pain, make sure you do not give him any painkillers that contain NSAIDs (Non Steroidal Anti Inflammatories).
If you have taken all the precautions you can but your child still does get hurt, here are a few indicators that he should be taken to the doctor immediately.
If the bleed requires going to the hospital, make sure you go to a hospital that has experience treating hemophilia. Any injury affecting the brain or any part of the central nervous system or a vital organ should be treated as an emergency.
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