![\"Riley](\"https:\/\/blogs.rch.org.au\/news\/files\/2013\/10\/Riley-Twomey-HaemophiliaAwareWeek-BLOG-218x221.jpg\")
<\/p>\nFor a child with haemophilia, bumps and bruises can be far more serious than in a child without. What may present itself as a harmless bruise in a child without haemophilia, could potentially be permanent damage and chronic pain for a child with this condition.<\/p>\n
Haemophilia is a hereditary genetic disorder, which usually affects males, where the blood does not contain enough clotting factors to control bleeding. Without enough of these\u00a0factors, bleeding can occur for a longer period of time. This can put a child with haemophilia\u2019s health at great risk, particularly where internal bleeding is concerned.<\/p>\n
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At The Royal Children\u2019s Hospital (RCH), children receive treatment for this condition at the\u00a0Henry Ekert Haemophilia Treatment Centre<\/a>. The Centre is the only\u00a0designated paediatric treatment centre in Victoria for children with haemophilia and other bleeding disorders and currently sees 180 patients with haemophilia.<\/p>\n One of the patients at the centre, Riley, was referred to the RCH in April of this year after being diagnosed with haemophilia. Angie and Dave, Riley\u2019s parents, make the family trip to the RCH once every three months, as well as having consultations via the RCH Telehealth Service<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cRiley had a very swollen ankle. After taking him to see a doctor at our local hospital in Wangaratta, we were told he had haemophilia and that the swollen ankle was actually a bleed,\u201d said Riley\u2019s mum Angie.<\/p>\n \u201cWe were told that Riley\u2019s haemophilia was severe and he immediately had a port put in.\u201d<\/p>\n Insertion of a port allows for families to administer concentrated blood clotting factors to their child on their own, without having to come to hospital or inject the infusion into a vein two to three times per week. Infusions may also be required between regular doses if the child suffers a trauma.<\/p>\n Angie describes her little boy as \u2018brave\u2019.<\/p>\n \u201cThrough this whole thing, he has been so brave. He loves the hospital and he\u2019s a really happy, playful boy. We\u2019ve learnt to do infusions at home \u2013 the hospital staff have been extremely supportive. We live in a small town where we don’t know anyone else with this condition, so it’s great to help raise awareness.\u201d<\/p>\n