What happens when you don’t have enough haemoglobin in your blood? You feel fatigued and dizzy all the time. A low haemoglobin count also makes you more prone to illnesses. Your doctor may prescribe an iron-rich diet for you and hook you up with a few supplements, and in a matter of weeks, your anaemia will be resolved. But what if the deficiency is caused by things beyond the control of diet and supplements? Thalassemia, an inherited blood disorder, is one of those causes. The name for the disease is derived from ‘Thalassa’ and ‘haemia’ the Greek word for ‘sea’ and ‘blood’ respectively. The name alludes to the high incidence of thalassemia among the Mediterranean people who live around the sea. People suffering from the disease tend to face health complications that tend to interfere with their day-to-day life. That’s why, every year on May 8, the world observes Thalassemia Day to increase awareness about the inherited blood disorder and to develop more preventive measures to curb the incidence of the disease.

What is Thalassemia?

People suffering from thalassemia don’t make enough of haemoglobin, causing a shortage of red blood cells in the bloodstream. Without enough red blood cells, the body faces a condition known commonly as anaemia. It’s common knowledge that oxygen is essential for all the cells of the body to function normally. In the absence of red blood cells, which transport oxygen to the rest of the body, the person feels fatigued, pale, short of breath and weak overall.

Thalassemia can be classified as alpha or beta or as severe or moderate. Alpha thalassemia refers to a deficiency of alpha chains in the haemoglobin, and a beta chain shortage leads to beta thalassemia. Alpha thalassemia is further divided as alpha thalassemia major and HbH disease. Beta is classified as thalassemia major and thalassemia intermedia.

What Causes Thalassemia?

Thalassemia is an inherited blood disorder. (Photo credits: Wikimedia Commons)

Thalassemia is an inherited blood disorder, passed down genetically from the parents to the child, making it difficult to prevent. Some people who have the thalassemia trait have the genetic trait but don’t exhibit any symptoms of the disease. A person who has thalassemia major may have severe symptoms and may require routine transfusions. The type of thalassemia depends on the type of traits have been inherited by the person. If a person receives beta thalassemia from his father and another from his mother, he is likely to suffer from beta-thalassemia major. If the person revives alpha thalassemia train from the mother and normal alpha chains from the father, she may have alpha thalassemia trait. Parents who may have thalassemia trait can pass it on their children and increase their risk of thalassemia.

What are the Symptoms of Thalassemia?

If you have thalassemia trait, you may not exhibit any symptoms at all. Others may show symptoms similar to anaemia like weakness and tiredness. Although they may vary, severe symptoms include bone deformities, dark urine, delayed growth and development and pale yellow skin.

How is Thalassemia Detected?

Anaemia can be detected through a blood test. Further, the shape of the blood cells are also studied in case there is an oddity in their shape. Oddly-Shaped red blood cells are a sign of thalassemia. A haemoglobin electrophoresis test is also conducted to single out the abnormal red blood cells. The doctor may also check your spleen to see what type of thalassemia you have.

How is Thalassemia treated?

The treatment is decided according to the type and severity of the disease. Some of the popular options include blood transfusions, bone marrow transplant, medicines and supplements to boost the count. In some cases, surgery is also conducted to remove an enlarged spleen or a gallbladder.

What is the Theme for World Thalassemia 2018?

This year, the focus is on special needs of people with thalassemia. The theme is “Thalassaemia past, present and future: Documenting progress and patients' needs worldwide.” People who live with thalassemia face a lot of health complications that interfere with their everyday life. Since it’s a life-long condition, it can present challenges at every stage of life and the treatment itself can be emotionally and financially draining for the person.

That’s why it is important that thalassemia patients get adequate emotional support and psychological counselling. Support should be extended to them to help them cope with their illness and for better management of the disease. This year on World Thalassemia Day, the goal is to make the world aware of these special needs of thalassemia patients and to make their lives a little easier.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on May 08, 2018 11:42 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).