Thalassemia is a hereditary blood disorder. It is a genetic disease, which is passed on from generation to generation. Red blood cells contain hemoglobin, which works to supply oxygen to different parts of the body. This hemoglobin is made up of two types of chains called alpha chain and beta chain. Problems with any of these disrupt the production of hemoglobin. Defective hemoglobin is produced. The lifespan of normal red blood cells is 120 days. Defective hemoglobin reduces the lifespan of red blood cells and causes them to break down more easily.
There are two main types of thalassemia. Alpha thalassemia and beta thalassemia.
In most cases alpha thalassemia is not acute. Many times the symptoms are not understood, the patient leads a normal life. However, most patients with thalassemia suffer from beta thalassemia. This thalassemia can again be of two types. People with beta thalassemia minor are called carriers of thalassemia. Many unknowingly carry the disease throughout their lives. Sometimes mild anemia occurs. The other is Thalassemia Major. If both parents are carriers of thalassemia, the risk of the child developing thalassemia major is 25 percent. The risk of becoming a carrier is 50 percent.
Understand how
The symptoms of thalassemia are mainly anemia. Such as fatigue, exhaustion, shortness of breath, pale skin, etc. As the blood breaks down at a higher rate, the skin turns yellow due to jaundice. Urine may also be yellow. The spleen becomes enlarged. The liver can also become enlarged. Unstable density may be reduced. The bones of the nose can be given, the shape of the face changes. Physical growth is disrupted. The complications increase day by day.
Treatment of thalassemia also has reactions. Because these patients have to give blood frequently, the level of iron in the body increases. This excess iron is stored in the heart, liver and pancreas. Excess iron builds up in the limbs. In addition, frequent blood transfusions increase the patient's risk of developing blood-borne infectious diseases.
Blood hemoglobin electrophoresis is performed to detect thalassemia. Thalassemia can be suspected from routine blood tests (CBC). The disease can also be detected by DNA testing.
Treatment
Blood transfusion is the main treatment for thalassemia. If there is excess iron in the body, it has to be reduced with iron chelation medicine. When the spleen becomes large, it has to be surgically removed. This reduces the rate of blood intake. Gene therapy is another advanced treatment.
What to do to prevent
Awareness is very important to prevent thalassemia. It is possible to reduce the rate of thalassemia by avoiding marriage between two carriers by testing blood before marriage. Marriage between relatives should be discouraged. In high-risk cases, fetal thalassemia can be tested in a special way on the advice of a doctor after the baby is born.
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