Thalassemia is a blood disorder passed down through families (inherited) in which the body makes an abnormal form or inadequate amount of hemoglobin. Hemoglobin is the protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen. The disorder results in large numbers of red blood cells being destroyed, which leads to anemia.
A blood disorder involving lower-than-normal amounts of an oxygen-carrying protein.
Thalassemia is an inherited blood disorder characterised by less oxygen-carrying protein (haemoglobin) and fewer red blood cells in the body than normal.
THERE ARE TWO MAIN TYPES OF THALASSEMIA :
1) Alpha thalassemia occurs when a gene or genes related to the alpha globin protein are missing or changed (mutated).
2) Beta thalassemia occurs when similar gene defects affect production of the beta globin protein.
There are many forms of thalassemia. Each type has many different subtypes. Both alpha and beta thalassemia include the following two forms:
1) Thalassemia major
2) Thalassemia minor
Symptoms include fatigue, weakness, paleness and slow growth.
Mild forms may not need treatment. Severe forms may require blood transfusions or a donor stem-cell transplant.
Target is to change the attitudes of the society with regards to decision making in selecting a partner for marriage.
Inclusion of the message in the school curriculum & insert question on thalassemia awareness.
Teledrama
Certificate course for marriage registars.
Assess mother during antenatal checkup by HbA2 level (3.6-8%).
Also assess father-if father is also trait-chorionic villous sampling should be carried out <12 week or amniotic fluid sampling(12-20 weeks).
Antenatal chorionic villous sampling.
Done at 9-10 week of gestation.
RFLP analysis/PCR analysis is done on foetal DNA to identify the foetus is homozygous or heterozygous.
