{"id":28704,"date":"2023-01-15T21:32:15","date_gmt":"2023-01-15T20:32:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.radiotimes.com\/?p=1767745"},"modified":"2023-01-16T09:57:09","modified_gmt":"2023-01-16T08:57:09","slug":"how-common-is-haemophilia-as-seen-on-call-the-midwife","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/radiotimes\/rss_feed\/how-common-is-haemophilia-as-seen-on-call-the-midwife\/","title":{"rendered":"How common is haemophilia, as seen on Call the Midwife?"},"content":{"rendered":"

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By Morgan Cormack\n \t\t<\/p>

Published: Sunday, 15 January 2023 at 12:00 am<\/p>

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As season 12<\/a> of Call the Midwife<\/a> aired episode 3 this week, the beloved drama only continues to grip us all. From fiery relationships<\/a> to traumatising cases and surprise exits<\/a>, the BBC series has returned with a bang.<\/p>\n

If there\u2019s one thing we can most certainly count on the series to do, it\u2019s to shine a light on lesser-known medical conditions<\/a> and maternity issues. This week\u2019s episode is no different and deals with a newborn case of haemophilia.<\/p>\n

Lorna Pryce comes into the maternity clinic with her doting mother and later in the episode, gives birth to baby Ian. As the pair recover after the birth, Dr Patrick Turner<\/a> (Stephen McGann) notices that Ian has a cephalohematoma, a birth injury caused by trauma to the infant\u2019s head. \u201cIt\u2019s simply a bruise under the scalp from where we had to give him a tug with the forceps,\u201d he explains.<\/p>\n

Later on, Dr Turner and Shelagh (Laura Main) notice multiple bruises on Ian\u2019s body, which means Dr Turner has to refer the newborn to the paediatrician at St Cuthbert\u2019s Hospital. They later learn that baby Ian has haemophilia and when checking Lorna\u2019s medical records, find out that her father also had the rare blood condition and died from a fatal fall at age 29.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey\u2019re bringing his bleeding under control but the diagnosis is going to hang over them for the whole of his life,\u201d Dr Turner says.<\/p>\n

But what is the blood condition and how common is it? Read on for everything you need to know about haemophilia, as discussed in Call the Midwife episode 3.<\/p>

What is haemophilia?<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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Call the Midwife.<\/span><\/figcaption> BBC<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

Haemophilia is a rare condition that affects the body\u2019s ability to clot. For example, if someone was to suffer a cut, the substances in your blood (known as clotting factors) mix with blood cells (platelets) to make your blood sticky and form a clot. This eventually makes the bleeding stop.<\/p>\n

However, those with haemophilia do not have as many clotting factors as they should have in their blood. So, this means they bleed for longer than usual.<\/p>\n

The symptoms can range from mild to severe but may include having nosebleeds that take a long time to stop, bleeding gums and skin that bruises easily.<\/p>\n

How common is haemophilia?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

The condition is classified as rare, with it mainly affecting the male population.<\/p>\n

According to research done at UCL<\/a>, about 6,000 people in the UK have haemophilia, with most of them being male because of the way the condition is inherited.<\/p>\n

If you have a family history of haemophilia, like in episode 3 of Call the Midwife, the chances for male newborns to have the condition are also high but tests during pregnancy can diagnose haemophilia in the baby.<\/p>\n

There\u2019s no cure for haemophilia, but treatments \u2013 like man-made clotting factors prescribed as medicine or injections \u2013 usually allow a person with the condition to enjoy a good quality of life.<\/p>