Last Updated on December 6, 2022 by Shabnam Sengupta
Thalassemia is a genetic disease. A child is born with thalassemia. Both parents equally contribute to thalassemia in their children. One abnormal gene that causes thalassemia comes from each parent. A report by National Health Mission informs that about 10,000 -15,000 babies with thalassemia are born every year. There is no specific age to detect thalassemia.
What is thalassemia?
Thalassemia is a blood disorder that reduces the production of red blood cells. This leads to lower hemoglobin in the body. Hemoglobin carries oxygen throughout the body. So, thalassemia prevents oxygen from reaching every corner. The lack of oxygen leads to anemia among thalassemia patients. Other common symptoms of thalassemia are fatigue, weakness, paleness, and slow body growth.
What is the right age to detect thalassemia?
The symptoms of thalassemia can show up at any time. As a result, there is no specific age for the detection of thalassemia. However, the available evidence shows that most children with moderate to severe thalassemia show symptoms within six to 24 months.
How is thalassemia detected?
Children with thalassemia show symptoms within 24 months of their birth. A doctor can initiate the treatment of thalassemia with blood tests if they suspect thalassemia in a child. Thalassemia is often tested during pregnancy. A doctor can perform chorionic villus sampling or amniocentesis to suspect a fetus of thalassemia.
Newborn babies are often not tested for thalassemia. The diagnostic tests do not provide reliable results. However, a doctor can perform a newborn blood spot test to suspect a child of beta-thalassemia.
What are the symptoms of thalassemia?
The most common health condition caused by thalassemia is anaemia. Anaemia is recognized by weakness and tiredness because enough oxygen does not reach the body. A research paper published in 2022 informs that people with thalassemia have excessive fatigue, weakness, pale or yellowish skin, facial bone deformities, slow growth, abdominal swelling, and dark urine.
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