Several other complexities Thalassemia patients suffer from

A Thalassemia patient often suffers from many other complexities that can be avoided if those are identified in the early stage. In most of the cases, the patients do not take other treatments except blood transfusion. They do not go through regular hormone check-ups.

Various organs of a Thalassemia patient such as pituitary glands, thyroid, adrenals, ovary, prostate, liver, and pancreas may be affected due to regular blood transfusion.

The other complexities that Thalassemia patients may suffer are:

■ Thalassemia patients' physical growth could be affected even before their birth. The growth hormone in 20 to 30 per cent of the patients remains less than required. The patient may suffer from zinc deficiency. Such patients are often seen to be stunted. Proper treatment may normalise their growth though.

■ It may also cause gonad deficiency. It is a physical condition in which the male or female body does not produce enough sex hormone or testosterone. The condition is called hypogonadism. The patient often suffers from difficulties or delay in menstrual cycle. It can be controlled by removing excessive zinc in the body.

■ Almost 50 per cent of the Thalassemia patients are prone to diabetes. Remaining half may suffer glucose intolerance. Iron generated in pancreas affects insulin production in the body. The condition is called secondary diabetes. Therefore, it is necessary to test blood sugar from young age regularly.

■ Thalassemia patients suffer from thyroid conditions. It is necessary to check-up the thyroid hormone of the patient from the age of 12 regularly.

■ Some of the patients often suffer from calcium deficiency due to lack of hormones in parathyroid gland. It causes body pains, stone generation in different body parts and breakage tendency in bones.

■ Bones of Thalassemia patients are often thin and the cortex thick. Malnutrition, less stamina and shortage of sex hormone cause decay in bones. Bones in spines and hip are more prone to such decay. The patients have to be fed plenty of foods with calcium and vitamin D. Also they have to do a lot of physical activity.

*Shahjada Selim is an assistant professor of endocrinology department at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University. The piece, originally published in Prothom Alo print edition, has been rewritten in English by Farjana Liakat