Thalassaemia

40 Million Indians are Thalassaemia Minor
Each year 10,000 - 12,000 are Indians are born with Thalassemia, according to National Thalassemia Welfare Society.

Thalassaemia is a genetic blood disorder which affects the production of red blood cells. Those suffering from this disorder are not able to produce haemoglobin in their blood. Haemoglobin carries oxygen to the various part of the body. The lack of these cells hampers growth in children and at times cardiac failure as well as contracting infections like hepatitis due to life long blood transfusions. Approx more than 1 lakh children in the country are affected by Thalassaemia. While regular blood transfusion is required for survival, repeated transfusion results in an undesirable build-up of iron in the body, which can be fatal. To counter this injections are required daily to rid the body of this excess iron. This injection is given by a special infusion pump, over a period of 8-10 hours every day. Usually, the injection is started before the child goes to sleep and detached in the morning Oral drugs which are affordable have been developed to replace the injection though this may not work with some people.

Bone marrow transplant (BMT) is the only cure, but with only 10 centers in the country performing BMT, the odds of finding a match becomes very hard, specially taking into consideration that over 10,000 children are born with Thalassemia in India each year.

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