There is a dire need to enhance awareness on haemophilia among physicians, paediatricians and orthopaedicians who deal with this disorder, said K. Sudhakar, Head of the Department of Medicine, Siddhartha Medical College.
Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of a Regional Haemophilia Update- 2018, jointly organised by the Department of Medicine in Siddhartha Medical College and Krishna district chapter of the Association of Physicians in India (API), on Sunday, Dr. Sudhakar said besides the single existing Haemophilia Treatment Centre in Eluru, efforts were being made to set up one each such centre in Vijayawada, Visakhapatnam and in Rayalaseema region.
Haemophilia is a mostly inherited genetic disorder that impairs the body’s ability to make blood clots, a process needed to stop bleeding, said Dr. Sudhakar, adding: “This results in people bleeding longer after an injury, easy bruising and an increased risk of bleeding inside joints of the brain. Those with a mild case of the disease may have symptoms only after an accident or during surgery. Bleeding into a joint can result in permanent damage while bleeding in the brain can result in long term headaches, seizures, or a decreased level of consciousness,” he cautioned.
Informing that one in every 5,000 people had haemophilia, he said most physicians, paediatricians and orthopaedicians dealing with patients of haemophilia did not have much knowledge about how to treat this disorder. “Awareness level is very low and there is a need to update their knowledge,” he emphasised.
Experts on the subject shared experiences and threw light on key aspects such as haemophilia scenario in AP, management of acture bleeding, prophylaxis in haemophilia, role of rehabilitation in PWH and the way forward for haemophilia care in Andhra Pradesh.
The event was inaugurated by K Babji, State Director of Medical Education while secretary API, Krishna, G. Chakradhara Rao, secretary of the Vijayawada chapter of the Haemophilia Society M.B.S.V. Prasad and others were present.
(EOM)