School and Haemophilia with Inhibitors
The first day of school can be very stressful for children and especially for parents. To overcome challenges and manage complicated situations, which may occur, it is important to be well-prepared.
You need to ensure that teachers are aware of your child’s condition and how it can be managed. Provide them with easily understandable information and resources about haemophilia and inhibitors. You can use the fact sheet from the section “About inhibitors”, or this material, created by the Hemophilia Federation of America (HFA). Someone from your haemophilia society can come to the school to talk to teachers and other kids and explain that your child is just like other children, but he/she needs to be a little more careful about certain things. Teach your child how to be comfortable when letting others know about haemophilia.
Sometimes it is difficult for a child to understand the limitations he/ she has because of inhibitors. It is normal to be concerned about your child having a bleed as a result of play, but do not be over-protective. Speak with your child and set rules about what he/she can and cannot do. Discuss with your child the symptoms of bleeds, so that he/she can be self-aware and recognise when bleeding happens.
Allow your child to play with his/her friends so that he/she does not feel rejected but avoids the riskiest activities. There is always a place for each child to play or a variation of a certain sport. For example, he/she can be a referee if he/she cannot play football.
There will inevitably be days when your child will be absent from school. Make sure that some friends stay in touch on a daily basis and help with the lessons missed. That way, they will strengthen their friendship and it will be easier for your child to overcome bleeding and get back to school.
