Thalassaemia
Thalassaemiacan cause a wide range of problems, although treatment can help keep many ofthem under control.
Children born with the main type of thalassaemia beta thalassaemia major usually develop symptoms a few months after birth.
Less severe types may not cause any noticeable problems until later in childhood or even until adulthood.
If you're a carrier of thalassaemia, you'll usually be healthy and won't have any symptoms.
Some of the main problems associated with thalassaemia are outlined below, but not everyone with the condition will experience all of these.
Almost everyone with thalassaemia major or other serious types will develop anaemia, which can be life-threatening in severe cases.
In anaemiathere are low levels ofhaemoglobin (a substance that transports oxygen) in the blood.
It typically causes:
Frequent blood transfusions willusually be needed for life to stop anaemia becoming severe. It's usually a side effect of repeated blood transfusions,
Too much iron in the body can cause:
Lifelong treatment with medication to stop iron building up to harmful levels will usually be needed. This is known as chelation therapy.
Thalassaemia major or other severe types can also sometimes cause a number of other problems, including:
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.