External wounds are usually not serious. When bleeding occurs in a vital organ, especially the brain, a hemophiliac s life is in danger. Both hemophilia A and B are very rare disorders. Hemophilia A affects fewer than 1 in 10,000 people, or about 2500 Canadians. Hemophilia B is even less common, affecting approximately 1 in 50,000 people, or about 500 Canadians.
Hemophilia affects people of all races, colours and ethnic origins.
The most severe forms of hemophilia affect almost only males. Females can be seriously affected only if the father is a hemophiliac and the mother is a carrier. This is extremely rare. However, many women who are carriers have symptoms of mild hemophilia. We are only now fully recognizing the importance of bleeding in carriers and the degree to which these symptoms affect a woman s quality of life.