My daughter is now a thalassemia patient from her 13 months age. Please tell me what is the caution and what is the treatment for her?

Question

Thalassemia is an inherited blood disorder in which the body makes an abnormal form of hemoglobin. Hemoglobin is the protein molecule in red blood cells that carries oxygen. The disorder results in excessive destruction of red blood cells, which leads to anemia. Anemia is a condition in which your body doesn?t have enough normal, healthy red blood cells.

Thalassemia is inherited, meaning that at least one of your parents must be a carrier of the disease. It?s due to either a genetic mutation or a deletion of certain key gene fragments.

The two main forms of thalassemia are alpha-thalassemia and beta-thalassemia. In alpha-thalassemia, at least one of the alpha globin genes has a mutation or abnormality. In beta-thalassemia, the beta globin genes are affected.

Each of these two forms of thalassemia has several distinct types. The exact form you have will affect the severity of your symptoms and prognosis.Some of the utilized treatments include:

blood transfusions
a bone marrow transplant (BMT)
medications and supplements
possible surgery to remove the spleen or gallbladder

Sajeev Kumar · Accepted Answer

Thalassemia is an inherited blood disorder in which the body makes an abnormal form of hemoglobin. Hemoglobin is the protein molecule in red blood cells that carries oxygen. The disorder results in excessive destruction of red blood cells, which leads to anemia. Anemia is a condition in which your body doesn?t have enough normal, healthy red blood cells.

Thalassemia is inherited, meaning that at least one of your parents must be a carrier of the disease. It?s due to either a genetic mutation or a deletion of certain key gene fragments.

The two main forms of thalassemia are alpha-thalassemia and beta-thalassemia. In alpha-thalassemia, at least one of the alpha globin genes has a mutation or abnormality. In beta-thalassemia, the beta globin genes are affected.

Each of these two forms of thalassemia has several distinct types. The exact form you have will affect the severity of your symptoms and prognosis.Some of the utilized treatments include:

blood transfusions
a bone marrow transplant (BMT)
medications and supplements
possible surgery to remove the spleen or gallbladder