Thalassaemia
Thalassaemia is the name for a group of inherited conditions that affect a substance in the blood called haemoglobin.
People with the condition produce either no or too little haemoglobin, which is used by red blood cells to carry oxygen around the body. This can make them very anaemic (tired, short of breath and pale).
It mainly affects people of Mediterranean, South Asian, Southeast Asian and Middle Eastern origin.
There are a number of types of thalassaemia, which can be divided into alpha and beta thalassaemias. Beta thalassaemia major is the most severe type. Other types include beta thalassaemia intermedia, alpha thalassaemia major and haemoglobin H disease.
It's also possible to be a "carrier" of thalassaemia, also known as having the thalassaemia trait. Thalassaemia carriers don't have any serious health problems themselves, but are at risk of having children with the condition.
This page covers:
Most people born withthalassaemia experience problemsfrom a few months after birth. Less severe cases may not be noticeable until later in childhood or even until adulthood.
The mainproblems associatedwith thalassaemiaare:
Some people experience other problems such as delayed growth, weak and fragile bones( osteoporosis ), and reduced fertility .
This means they only have one of the faulty genes that causes the condition.
Eating a healthy diet, doing regular exercise and not smoking or drinking excessive amounts of alcohol can also help to ensure you stay as healthy as possible.
The only possible cure for thalassaemia is a stem cell or bone marrow transplant , but thisisn't done very often because of the significant risks involved.
But with currenttreatments,average life expectancy is expected to increase significantly, with people likely to live into their 50s, 60s and beyond.
A carrier of thalassemia is someone who carries at least one of the faulty genes that causes thalassaemia, but doesn't have the condition themselves. It's also known as having the thalassaemia trait.
People with this trait won't develop severe thalassaemia, but are at risk of having a child with the condition if their partner is also a carrier.
You can request a blood test to check if you're a carrier of thalassaemia from your GP surgery or nearest sickle cell and thalassaemia centre .
.
Read about thalassaemia, a group of blood disorders that affect a substance called haemoglobin. Find out about the symptoms, causes and treatments for the condition.
Read about the main symptoms of thalassaemia, including anaemia, delayed growth and problems caused by too much iron in the body.
Read about what causes thalassaemia, how it's inherited and how it affects the body.
Read about screening for thalassaemia in pregnancy, testing for the condition later in life and getting a test to see if you're a carrier of thalassaemia.
Read about the main treatments for thalassaemia, including blood transfusions, medication to remove excess iron from the body and stem cell transplants.
Read about living with thalassaemia, including what you can do to stay healthy and advice about planning a pregnancy.
Read about how to find out if you're a carrier of thalassaemia and what it means for your health and any children you have.