Thalassemia is a blood disorder that is genetically transferred to the children by the parents. A thalassemia patient has low hemoglobin and lesser red blood cells than a normal human being. A person with mild thalassemia may not need treatment, but severe forms require proper medical treatment, which is blood transfusions.

Typical thalassemia symptoms are fatigue, weakness, paleness, jaundice, facial bone deformity, slow growth, swelling and dark urine. All these symptoms are severe in severe cases on the disease, while in mild cases the symptoms may not be observable.

Thalassemia is a hereditary disease that results from mutations in the cells that produce hemoglobin. Hemoglobin is an important part of the blood, which helps carry oxygen to all parts of the body. Lack of hemoglobin leaves a person anemic and fatigued as oxygen is not carried properly to all the body tissues.

The type and severity of thalassemia depends on the number of mutated genes inherited from the parents. Lesser the mutations, less severe the thalassemia. Least severe form is minor thalassemia. People with minor thalassemia aren’t ill themselves, but are carriers of the disease. It means their children can inherit the mutations of cells and become thalassemia patients.

People who have family history of thalassemia are more likely to have the disease. A thalassemia patient can have excess iron in their body due to regular blood transfusions. This excess iron can harm the heart and liver. These patients are also at higher risk for infections.

Some patients may have deformed facial bones. They also face the risk of having weak, thin and brittle bones that are prone to breaking. Thalassemia patient’s spleen can get enlarged as it works harder to remove infections from anemic blood and may need to be removed. Removal of spleen increases the risk of contracting infections. Anemia resulting from thalassemia also affects the growth rate of affected children.

Thalassemia cannot be treated by medicines. Patients with severe thalassemia require frequent blood transfusions, which might cause iron build up. As a result, patients may have to take medicines to remove the excess iron. Some cases may be treated by bone marrow transplant. Bone marrow transplant is a risky procedure and may lead to death, therefore it is prescribed to patients with the most extreme form of the disease. Also the donor for bone marrow has to be well matched, which is usually a healthy sibling.

A thalassemia patient should not take iron supplements unless recommended by a doctor. A healthy diet can give the required amount of energy. Thalassemia patients need to take active care in avoiding infections. It means washing hands frequently and getting relevant vaccines as and when prescribed by the doctor. Patients with thalassemia, or thalassemia carriers should consult a doctor before deciding to have a child.