How is hemophilia defined?

Hemophilia is defined as a condition that leads to excessive bleeding due to a deficiency in specific clotting factors, which are essential for the blood coagulation process. In hemophilia, individuals have a genetic mutation that affects the production of these factors, most commonly factor VIII or factor IX. When there is an injury or bleeding event, individuals with hemophilia cannot form a stable clot efficiently, resulting in prolonged bleeding. This characteristic is a hallmark of the disorder, making option B the most accurate description.

The other choices do not capture the essence of hemophilia. A genetic disorder affecting red blood cells does not pertain to hemophilia, as it specifically relates to disorders like sickle cell disease or thalassemia. An autoimmune disorder impacting platelet function is related to conditions such as immune thrombocytopenia, not hemophilia. A temporary condition following an injury does not define hemophilia, as the bleeding issues in hemophilia can occur spontaneously or as a result of minor trauma, persisting throughout the individual’s life.