Symptoms Of Hemophilia

Unusual Bleeding After Vaccinations

Vaccinations usually only cause a tiny amount of blood loss, and a small bandage will take care of the problem. By the time you get home from the doctor, your bleeding should have stopped. But if you experience unusual bleeding after vaccinations, your blood may not be clotting properly. Hemophiliacs may have such a decreased level of the activity of blood clotting factors that unusual bleeding occurs. Receiving a routine vaccination can cause a great deal more bleeding and bruising than usual.

For this reason, patients with hemophilia still need to get their shots but must take precautions. If the shot can be given in the skin rather than a muscle, do so. Once the shot has been given, firmly press down for several minutes right where the needle went in. Many shots can be given under the skin rather than in the muscle and still work correctly. Place a bandage firmly over the area, and put an ice pack on the injection site if it starts to swell.