What is Thalassaemia?

Thalassaemia is a anaemic blood disorder. Blood cells in the bone marrow are not produced as they should be. Thalassaemia is one of the most common inherited disease. People of Asian, Mediterranean and African and origin are the ones mostly affected by this disease. Except that it is inherited cause of the disease is unknown.

Thalassaemia can be divided into Thalassaemia Major and Minor.
Thalassaemia Major is the more severe type where the patient has acute anaemia. Symptoms are enlarged spleen and jaundice, frequent leg ulcers and abnormal skeletal development causing repeated fractures and stunted growth. Iron deposits in the heart muscles can cause heart failure while that in the liver can lead to liver dysfunction. Therefore the life expectancy of Thalassaemia patients is reduced.

Thalassaemia Minor patients have slight anaemia but can lead normal lives. Most people are not even aware they have the disease. At times a Thalassaemia Minor person may realise after his/her child has been diagnosed with Thalassaemia Major. It is very importance to have a blood test to know if you have Thalassaemia before you start a family.

There is no cure for Thalassaemia Major the only treatment is regular blood transfusions 2 to 3 times a month. Children with blood transfusions can lead a normal life till they are about 25 years. In the transfused blood the red cells are broken down over a period of few months, but the iron from these cells remain in the system and can damage other parts of the body. Therefore the blood transfusions have to be supplemented by another procedure to remove the extra iron from the body. Although the treatment is successful it is unpleasant and needs to be done daily overnight. Most patients die in their early twenties if this treatment is not administered, but with blood transfusions and drugs they can lead fairly normal and healthy lives.