The symptoms of hemophilia B depend largely on the severity of the condition. The most common symptoms are prolonged bleeding and easy bruising. People with mild hemophilia B may only experience symptoms in certain instances, such as a dental procedure, accident or surgery. In these cases, it is important to let your dentist and other healthcare professionals know about your condition ahead of time so they can take the necessary precautions.
Other symptoms of hemophilia B include:
- Bleeding in the mouth from a cut or bite, or from losing a tooth
- Heavy nosebleeds for no obvious reason
- Heavy bleeding from a minor cut
- Cuts that bleed again after they have already stopped for a short time
- Blood in the urine or stool, resulting from bleeding in internal organs
- Tightness, swelling, warmth and/or pain in the joints
People with moderate to severe hemophilia B may also experience occasional bleeding episodes, without obvious cause, often into the joints and muscles. These are called “spontaneous bleeding episodes” and are more frequent in severe cases.
For parents: Noticing signs in your child
At first, parents of a child with hemophilia B are unlikely to notice symptoms in their baby, especially if they aren’t aware of a family history of hemophilia. In 30% of cases, the first indication of a bleeding disorder occurs when a male child is circumcised. Otherwise, the signs of hemophilia B aren’t usually noticeable until the child is a toddler, when injuries are more common.
Signs that your toddler could have hemophilia include:
- Prolonged nosebleeds
- Excessive bruising, sometimes raised, often appearing on the stomach, chest, buttocks and back
- Mouth bleeds when a child bites on his or her lips or tongue, as toddlers tend to do
The most common types of bleeds — though not the most obvious — are muscle or joint bleeds. These bleeds could be indicated by a child who does not want to move the affected area because of the pain.
Last Updated:
7/21/2009 2:22 PM