World Haemophilia Day 2025: What It Is, Symptoms, and Prevention – Explained

By | April 17, 2025

World Haemophilia Day, observed annually on April 17, aims to raise awareness about haemophilia, a rare inherited condition that affects the blood’s ability to clot. This day educates people about how haemophilia impacts individuals and families, emphasizes the need for early diagnosis and treatment, and offers support to those living with the condition. In 2025, the day’s focus shifts to the experiences of women and girls with bleeding disorders, ensuring they receive the same care as men.

What Is Haemophilia?

Haemophilia is a disorder that makes it difficult for blood to clot, leaving individuals vulnerable to prolonged bleeding. The condition occurs when the blood lacks certain clotting factors—proteins necessary for forming blood clots and stopping bleeding. The two most common types are:

  • Haemophilia A: A deficiency of clotting factor VIII.
  • Haemophilia B: A deficiency of clotting factor IX.

Although haemophilia predominantly affects males, women can also carry the gene or experience mild forms of the disorder. In severe cases, haemophilia can cause joint damage, internal bleeding, and other complications that significantly affect quality of life.

Recognizing Haemophilia Symptoms

Haemophilia symptoms may not always be obvious, but they often appear after injury or surgery. Early detection is crucial for effective treatment. Some signs to look for include:

  • Excessive bruising after minor bumps or injuries.
  • Frequent nosebleeds that are hard to stop.
  • Unusual or prolonged bleeding after small cuts or dental procedures.
  • Swelling or pain in joints, particularly in the elbows, knees, or ankles from internal bleeding.
  • Blood in urine or stool.

In infants and young children, bruising and swelling can occur unexpectedly, even without a clear cause. These signs often prompt parents to seek medical help. If a child experiences difficulty moving a limb due to pain from joint bleeding, it’s another red flag.

The History of World Haemophilia Day

The idea for World Haemophilia Day began in 1989, thanks to the World Federation of Haemophilia (WFH). The day honors Frank Schnabel, WFH’s founder, who devoted his life to improving the lives of people with haemophilia and other bleeding disorders. His work laid the foundation for what is now a global event.

Over the years, the observance of this day has grown, with the aim of promoting awareness, education, and advocacy for people with haemophilia. It serves as a platform for governments, healthcare providers, and communities to unite in their commitment to better care for those affected by bleeding disorders.

Why World Haemophilia Day Matters

World Haemophilia Day offers more than just a chance to spread knowledge about the condition—it calls for action. The day reminds us of several key issues:

  • Access to treatment remains a major challenge, especially in countries with limited healthcare resources.
  • Early diagnosis is vital to prevent complications such as joint damage or internal bleeding.
  • Debunking myths and reducing stigma about haemophilia is essential to fight discrimination.
  • Equality in healthcare is crucial—no individual, regardless of gender or location, should lack access to proper treatment.

Since haemophilia can lead to internal bleeding in joints and muscles, long-term effects can be debilitating. Fortunately, modern treatments like clotting factor replacement therapy allow individuals with haemophilia to lead relatively normal lives. The issue, however, is the unequal access to these treatments.

2025 Theme: “Access for All: Women and Girls Bleed Too”

The 2025 theme for World Haemophilia Day, “Access for All: Women and Girls Bleed Too,” highlights the underreported and underdiagnosed cases of haemophilia in women and girls. Historically, people have viewed haemophilia as a male-only condition, leading to misdiagnosis or delayed recognition for females.

Many women with haemophilia experience symptoms such as heavy menstrual bleeding, bruising, and joint pain, but they often receive dismissive diagnoses, told these issues are simply part of being female. As a result, their condition can go unnoticed, and they miss out on essential care.

This theme urges us to recognize the importance of addressing the healthcare needs of women and girls with bleeding disorders and ensuring they receive timely, accurate diagnoses and treatments. It’s a reminder that no one should be overlooked due to gender biases or outdated ideas.

Can Haemophilia Be Prevented?

Since haemophilia is a genetic disorder, prevention is not yet possible. However, early genetic testing can help families assess their risk, particularly if there is a history of haemophilia. Additionally, genetic counseling can provide insight into the likelihood of passing the condition to future children.

Though prevention isn’t an option, treatments can help manage the condition and prevent complications. Here are a few ways to control haemophilia symptoms:

  • Clotting factor replacement is the most common treatment, involving the injection of missing clotting factors into the bloodstream.
  • Prophylactic treatments (regular injections) can prevent bleeding episodes from occurring.
  • Joint health maintenance through low-impact exercises can prevent long-term damage from repeated bleeding episodes.

Additionally, avoiding activities that might cause injury, such as contact sports, is crucial for those with severe haemophilia.

Moving Toward a More Inclusive Future

As medical science advances, new gene therapies and innovative treatments could potentially reduce or even eliminate haemophilia symptoms. However, the global disparities in healthcare access continue to be a significant issue. World Haemophilia Day serves as a call to ensure universal access to diagnosis, treatment, and care for all affected, regardless of location.

While we’ve made progress, awareness and education remain key to ensuring that more people understand haemophilia, recognize its signs, and know where to seek help.

Conclusion

World Haemophilia Day provides a critical opportunity for individuals, communities, and governments to unite in support of those living with bleeding disorders. Whether we are raising awareness about symptoms, advocating for equal healthcare access, or challenging outdated views on haemophilia, this day fosters meaningful change.

In 2025, let’s continue the conversation, recognize the needs of women and girls with haemophilia, and advocate for better access to care for all those affected.