What is Thalassemia: Thalassemia is a hereditary blood disorder in which our body starts producing hemoglobin abnormally. Hemoglobin is a protein molecule that transports red blood cells. In the patients of this disease, destruction of RBCs starts in the body which leads to anemia i.e. there is lack of blood in the body. If one of the parents has thalassemia then this disease can also happen to the child. This happens either due to genetic mutation or deletion of some regulatory gene segment. According to Healthline report, ‘Thalassemia minor’ is a less severe form of this disorder, but there are two more forms which are considered quite serious. Their names are ‘Alpha Thalassemia’ and ‘Beta Thalassemia’.
Symptoms of Thalassemia
Symptoms of this disease can be different for everyone, although not everyone needs to see warning signs in the beginning, then you can contact the doctor if some physical problems are identified.
1. dark urine
2. delayed growth and development
3. extreme fatigue and lethargy
4. physical weakness
5. yellowing of skin
6. Bone deformities especially facial deformities.
cause of thalassemia
Thalassemia occurs when there is an abnormality or mutation in one of the genes that make hemoglobin. This genetic abnormality is inherited from your parents. If only one of your parents is a carrier of thalassemia, you may have a condition called ‘thalassaemia minor’. If this happens, you probably won’t have any symptoms, but you will be a carrier to your children. If both your parents have this disease, then you may see a dangerous form of this disease. Thalassemia is most common in people from Asia, the Middle East, Africa, and Mediterranean countries such as Greece and Turkey.
Thalassemia treatment
1. blood transfusion
2. bone marrow transplant
3. Medication and Supplements
4. Spleen and gall bladder surgery possible
