HEMOPHILIA AND SCHOOL

The haemophilias comprise a group of life-long bleeding diseases of va rying severity, whose main symptoms ore bruising and bleeding into joi nts with consequent arthritis. Management of bleeds with clotting fact or concentrates at first consisted of intermittent injections, usually given at home, but is now moving towards continuous prophylactic trea tment. This treatment has reduced the severity of symptoms, but at the cost of introducing several viral infections, the most severe of whic h are HIV (which leads to AIDS) and hepatitis, particularly hepatitis C. Treatment is supervised by Haemophilia Centres, and management of a n affected child at school should aim to allow normal physical activit y. Although viruses capable of transmitting serious disease may be car ried by some older children, they are not transmitted by normal school activities and infected children do not pose a risk to others. The hi story and function of the Haemophilia Society is described.