They should take measures to keep their blood pressure in check, follow general guidelines. Patients should consult their healthcare providers if they show any COVID-19-like symptoms
As the world observes Haemophilia Day (April 17) amid COVID-19 pandemic, experts have urged the bleeding disorders community to take extra precaution and said individuals of any age with blood disorders such as haemophilia disease are at an increased risk of developing serious COVID-19 symptoms.
According to experts, individuals with chronic medical conditions, such as haemophilia, should take extra precautions to minimise the risk of getting COVID-19. They should take measures to keep their blood pressure in check and follow general guidelines. Patients should consult their healthcare providers if they show any COVID-19-like symptoms.
“Currently the world is going through the SARS COV-2 pandemic, the people with haemophilia need to understand that they are at increased risk of developing serious COVID-19 symptoms. They should stock up on necessary medications and supplies that can last for a few weeks and stay at home as much as possible, avoid crowds and non-essential travel, said Dr Divya Bansal, Consultant, Clinical Haematology and Bone Marrow Transplant Manipal Hospitals, Dwarka.
“Haemophilia is normally an inherited disorder. It happens because of a defect in one of the clotting factor genes on the X chromosome. The chronic bleeding condition tends to occur in males, since the gene can be passed from mother to son. Women can also be carriers of haemophilia, but they are unlikely to have the disorder,” said Dr Bansal.
“Ideal replacement therapy is to replace the factor prophylactic ally, 2-3 times a week by commercially available recombinant or plasma-derived factor concentrates. Haemophilia is treated with replacement therapy, i.e. to replace the missing factor. But due to cost restraints, most of the patients in developing country like India end up getting on-demand therapy, i.e. factor concentrate is given only in case of active bleeding,” added Dr Bansal.
- Advertisement -