Expert telephone forum
10.09.2024 –
On 17 September 2024, the People’s Voice We cordially invite you to a telephone forum where you can ask your questions on the topic of “blood clotting disorders in childhood”. Private lecturer Dr. med. Antje Redlich, acting management team of the University Children’s Hospitalas well as her colleague senior physician Dr. med. Volker Aumann from the Department of Pediatric Oncology and Hematology at the University Children’s Hospital are available to answer your questions. The experts can be reached from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. on the telephone number (0391) 532970 in the Volksstimme.
Photo (from left): Private lecturer Dr. med. Antje Redlich and senior physician Dr. med. Volker Aumann. Photo: UMMD
Blood clotting disorders in childhood are diseases in which a child’s blood does not clot normally. These disorders can lead to either an increased tendency to bleed or an increased tendency to thrombosis.
Blood clotting disorders include hemophilia, von Willebrand syndrome, thrombocytopenia and disseminated intravascular coagulopathy (DIC). Hemophilia is a genetic disorder in which certain clotting factors are reduced or missing, which can lead to severe bleeding. Von Willebrand disease is the most common congenital bleeding disorder in which the von Willebrand protein, which is important for blood clotting, is missing or does not function properly and mainly results in mucosal bleeding. Thrombocytopenia is a condition in which the number of blood platelets (thrombocytes) is reduced, which increases the risk of bleeding. Disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) is a disease in which blood clotting is over-activated in severe infections. This can simultaneously lead to blood clots (thrombosis) and an increased tendency to bleed.
Symptoms of a bleeding tendency may include excessive bleeding from minor injuries or bleeding from the gums that is unusually heavy or prolonged. Bruising can also occur from minor impacts or even for no apparent reason. Another sign is frequent nosebleeds that are difficult to stop. In certain diseases such as hemophilia, bleeding can also occur in the joints, causing pain and swelling.
Diagnosis is made through blood tests that measure the function of platelets and clotting factors. Treatment depends on the specific disorder and may include the administration of clotting factors or other medications. It is important that affected children receive appropriate specialist care. Early diagnosis and targeted treatment can prevent complications and enable affected children to have a largely normal quality of life.
