Final answer:
Hemophilia is a genetic blood disorder that affects blood clotting. It can cause excessive bleeding and joint bleeding. Treatment involves regular infusions of clotting factors.
Step-by-step explanation:
Hemophilia is a genetic blood disorder that affects the body's ability to control blood clotting. It is caused by a lack of clotting factors in the blood. People with hemophilia are at risk of excessive bleeding even from minor injuries, and they may experience bleeding into the spaces between joints.
Hemophilia A is the most common form of hemophilia, resulting in a deficiency of factor VIII. Hemophilia B is the second most common form, resulting in a deficiency of factor IX. Both of these forms are linked to the X chromosome and typically passed from healthy carrier mothers to their male offspring.
Treatment for hemophilia involves regular infusions of clotting factors from healthy donors to prevent bleeding. Genetic therapy may become an option in the future.