Thalassemia in children

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Thalassemia is an inherited blood deficiency disorder that stops children’s growth and makes them weak.

If the child inherits the gene defect from both parents, it develops thalassemia major. Avoiding marriage between two thalassemia carriers may prevent the disease in children.

The physical disorder results in large numbers of red blood cells being destroyed and eventually leads to anaemia.

The break down of blood cell occurs both in bone marrow and spleen. Children with the disorder suffer from lack of oxygen as the body fails to produce adequate amounts of haemoglobin. As a result the child becomes weak and loses stamina. The broken down red cells produce a lot of iron generated to different body parts. Such body parts gradually become immobile and create many more problems in the body.
However, the children who are only thalassemia positive but not affected can lead a normal life.
Causes
As an inherited disease, thalassemia can occur in children of parents who are thalassemia positive. It can occur in other members of the family who carry the same genes.
How to indentify:
A child with thalassemia suffers from anaemia and is weak. He or she is not playful like other children and often suffers from shortness of breath. Their physical growth often slows down. Such patients have to have blood transfusions regularly.
Gradually, the liver and spleen becomes enlarged. The medication to remove extra iron is also very expensive.
It is said that the disease can be completely cured by transplanting bone marrow. However, bone marrow transplantation is very expensive.
Prevention
The best way to prevent the disease in babies is avoiding marriage between two carriers. Blood tests before marriage can help detecting the carriers. Blood tests are mandatory before marriage in many countries nowadays. This requires campaigns and and awareness programmes. Such blood tests are required before cousins marry. If one member of a family suffers from thalassemia or any other disease related to haemoglobin other member should have their blood tests as well.

*Abid Hossain Mollah is a professor and specialist in paediatrics