Hemophilia B: when to get help

1. 1

   Is any of this happening now?

   Call 911

   Seek emergency care after any significant head injury or if there may be bleeding in the brain.

   Warning signs include a sudden or severe headache, repeated vomiting, unusual sleepiness, confusion, seizure, fainting, weakness, poor balance, or changes in vision or speech.

   Symptoms can be delayed.

   Emergency assessment is also needed for:

   • Difficulty breathing or swallowing
   • Bleeding or swelling in the throat or neck
   • Uncontrolled external bleeding
   • Severe abdominal, back, hip, or groin pain
   • A painful swollen muscle with numbness, weakness, or a cool limb
   • Major trauma, such as a serious fall or vehicle collision
   • Vomiting blood or passing a large amount of blood in stool

   If you have an emergency treatment plan, follow it while arranging care.

   Tell emergency staff about hemophilia B promptly.

   Treatment for a suspected serious bleed may need to begin before scan results are available.

   Other emergency signs, for anyone

   • Someone who is struggling to breathe, gasping, choking, or cannot get words out
   • Someone who has chest pain, tightness or pressure lasting more than a few minutes
   • Someone who has sudden weakness or drooping on one side of the face or body, slurred speech, or sudden confusion
   • Someone who is unconscious, or cannot be woken
   • Someone who is bleeding heavily and it will not stop with firm pressure
   • Someone who has had a seizure that will not stop, or does not wake up afterwards
   • Someone who has lips or skin that look pale, blue, grey or blotchy
   • Someone who you believe has taken an overdose or swallowed something poisonous
   Yes, one of theseNo, none of these
2. 2

   Is any of this happening?

   Be seen today

   Contact the hemophilia team promptly for a possible joint or muscle bleed, repeated nose or mouth bleeding, blood in urine, unusually heavy menstrual bleeding, or bleeding that does not respond as expected to the usual plan.

   Yes, one of theseNo, none of these
3. 3

   Does any of this apply?

   Book an appointment

   Routine appointments are appropriate for reviewing preventive treatment, new bruising patterns, ongoing joint discomfort, planned dental work, surgery, pregnancy planning, or concerns about medicines.

   Yes, one of theseNo, none of these

Every sign above is quoted from the sofidex article on Hemophilia B. If you are not sure, err upward — it is always reasonable to be checked.