Hemophilia is best described as

• A. A hereditary disease where blood does not coagulate to stop bleeding
• B. A viral infection that causes bleeding disorders
• C. A condition in which blood clots too easily
• D. A deficiency of red blood cells

Answer: (A)

Hemophilia is a genetic bleeding disorder caused by a deficiency or dysfunction of clotting factors, most often factor VIII or IX, which are essential for the coagulation process. Because these factors are missing or not working properly, the blood cannot form a stable clot to stop bleeding, leading to prolonged or spontaneous bleeding after injuries or procedures. This is best described as a hereditary condition where the blood does not coagulate to stop bleeding. It is not a viral infection, not a condition where clots form too easily, and not a deficiency of red blood cells. It is usually inherited in an X-linked recessive pattern, so males are affected more often and females are typically carriers.