Hemophilia is caused when the plasma in the blood lacks enough protein to cause blood clotting. Hemophilia is an inherited disorder that leads to abnormal bleeding in the affected person. There are two types of hemophilia: hemophilia A and hemophilia B. Hemophilia A is more common since it affects nearly 80% of the people with this disorder. Hemophilia B is quite rare; it occurs among 20% of the people with hemophilia.

• Hemophilia B is linked with the X-chromosome. Since men have XY-chromosome, they are more susceptible to this disorder. Women have XX-chromosome. So, one faulty gene’s effects are nullified by the other normal gene. Although women are less susceptible to hemophilia, they can be carriers of the faulty gene, which they can pass it on to their child.
• Symptoms of hemophilia B include nose bleeding without any reason, excessive blood loss even with minor cuts and wounds, the presence of blood in stool or urine, bleeding for a long-term after tooth extraction, intermittent bleeding from cuts and wounds, bruises that are large, muscle or joint bleeding with pain and swelling.
• Treatment of hemophilia B involves several processes: managing episodes of bleeding, managing hemostasis, using factor replacement medications, treating with factor inhibitors, and rehabilitation.
• There are two types of treatment; hemophilia B can be treated with replacement therapy and clotting agents. Treatment of hemophilia B through replacement therapy is done by increasing factor IX levels in the blood. Factor IX is required for blood clotting. Along with replacement therapy, clotting agents are used in the treatment of hemophilia B. The clotting agents prevent the blood clots from dissolving, thus putting a stop to the bleeding.
• Treatment of hemophilia B in severe cases is done through prophylaxis. This involves continuous and regular treatments with factor replacement therapies. Such a treatment aims to avoid episodes of bleeding even before they take place.
• Treatment of hemophilia should be ideally done at a hemophilia center. These centers have specialists in dentistry, orthopedics, hematology, and surgery. These specialists have extensive experience in handling and managing hemophilia B cases. Along with these specialists, such centers have other professionals such as nurses, social workers, and physiotherapists who have experience in dealing with hemophilia B patients.