What is major thalassemia?

What is major thalassemia?

Overview. Thalassemia (thal-uh-SEE-me-uh) is an inherited blood disorder that causes your body to have less hemoglobin than normal. Hemoglobin enables red blood cells to carry oxygen. Thalassemia can cause anemia, leaving you fatigued.

Can you survive with thalassemia major?

Survival of thalassemia patients The cumulative survival rate from birth until 10 years old was 99%. After reaching the age of 20 years, 88% of the patients survived until 30 years, 74% survived until 45, 68% survived until 50, and 51% survived until 55 years old.

Is beta thalassemia minor or major?

If either the alpha or beta part is not made, there aren’t enough building blocks to make normal amounts of hemoglobin. Low alpha is called alpha thalassemia. Low beta is called beta thalassemia. When the words “trait,” “minor,” “intermedia,” or “major” are used, these words describe how severe the thalassemia is.

Can thalassemia major marry?

Abstract. Aim: With good care, patients with transfusion-dependent thalassemia major (TDTM) can reach older ages, marry and reproduce.

What food is good for thalassemia major?

Nutrition & Thalassemia Nutritional deficiencies are common in thalassemia. It is recommended that patients going through blood transfusion should opt for a low iron diet. Avoiding iron-fortified foods like cereal, red meat, green leafy vegetables & Vitamin C-rich foods is the best option for thalassemic patients.

How many years does a thalassemia patient live?

“Most thalassaemia patients would live up to the age of 25 to 30 years. Improved facilities will help them live up to the age of 60,” said Dr Mamata Manglani, head of pediatrics, Sion hospital.

Can thalassemia lead to death?

Severe thalassemia can cause early death (between ages 20 and 30) due to heart failure. Getting regular blood transfusions and therapy to remove iron from the body helps improve the outcome. Less severe forms of thalassemia often do not shorten lifespan.

What are the two major types of thalassemia?

There are two main types of thalassemia:

• Alpha thalassemia occurs when a gene or genes related to the alpha globin protein are missing or changed (mutated).
• Beta thalassemia occurs when similar gene defects affect production of the beta globin protein.

What is E beta thalassemia?

Hb E/β-thalassemia, which is the most serious form of Hb E syndromes, is a condition that results from the coinheritance of a β-thalassemia minor trait from one parent and Hb E from the other. It ranges from mild to severe thalassemia of the transfusion-dependent type.

Can thalassemia trait turn into major?

Because the thalassemia trait is a genetic trait and not a health condition, it cannot “become worse” or change into one of the more serious forms of thalassemia that may require medical treatment.

Can 2 thalassemia patients marry?

When two such thalassaemia carriers marry and plan to have children there is a one-in-four chance of having a thalassaemic baby at every conception. A simple blood test for thalassaemia before marriage will let couples know if they are carriers or not. If both are non-carriers, they need not worry.

Why is thalassemia necessary before marriage?

Premarital carrier screening reduces the rate of high risk marriages and birth of affected children by identifying the asymptomatic carriers. Genetic counseling of high risk individuals helps them to lead a healthy reproductive life.. In last four years PTPP has provided pre-marital screening to 36793 individuals.

Can thalassemia patients drink milk?

Many factors in thalassaemia promote calcium depletion. A diet containing adequate calcium (e.g. milk, cheese, dairy products and kale) is always recommended.

Is banana good for thalassemia major?

Intake of foods rich in folic acid also helps alleviate the signs of thalassemia. Some such foods are lentils, egg yolk, dried beans, sweet potato, wholegrain bread, soya products, split peas, nuts, Brussel sprouts, bananas, and peaches, among others.

How long can you live with thalassemia?

Persons with thalassemia trait have a normal life expectancy. Persons with beta thalassemia major live an average of 17 years and usually die by 30 years of age. Most deaths are caused by the cardiac complications of iron overload.

What is alpha thalassemia major?

Alpha thalassemia major (also called hydrops fetalis). In the past, almost all babies with alpha thalassemia major died before or shortly after birth from complications of extreme anemia. After they’re born, babies with alpha thalassemia major need frequent blood transfusions to survive.