What body systems are affected by thalassemia?

Thalassemia can cause bone deformities in the face and skull. People who have thalassemia may also have severe osteoporosis (brittle bones). Too much iron in your blood. This can cause damage to the heart, liver, or endocrine system (glands in the body that make hormones, like the thyroid gland and adrenal glands).

What problems does thalassemia cause?

Thalassemia (thal-uh-SEE-me-uh) is an inherited blood disorder that causes your body to have less hemoglobin than normal. Hemoglobin enables red blood cells to carry oxygen. Thalassemia can cause anemia, leaving you fatigued. If you have mild thalassemia, you might not need treatment.

What are the long term effects of thalassemia?

Children with thalassemia intermedia and major can have growth abnormalities from chronic anemia, a hypermetabolic state, endocrine abnormalities, poor nutrition, and iron overload, among others.

How does Thalassaemia affect health?

The main health problems associated with thalassaemia are: anaemia – severe tiredness, weakness, shortness of breath, pounding, fluttering or irregular heartbeats (palpitations) and pale skin caused by the lack of haemoglobin.

Does thalassemia shorten life expectancy?

A person with the thalassemia trait has a normal life expectancy. However, heart complications arising from beta thalassemia major can make this condition fatal before the age of 30 years.

What are the effects of thalassemia on the body?

According to the Mayo Clinic, symptoms include: • Dark urine. In addition, thalassemia can cause other health problems such as delayed puberty and slow growth rate, bone problems (including osteoporosis, brittle or deformed bones –- particularly in the facial area), enlarged spleen, severe anemia, heart disease, and liver problems.

How can I avoid complications with beta thalassemia?

One way to avoid complications is to follow the treatment plan your doctor prescribed. If you have severe beta thalassemia, blood transfusions can help you avoid some of these problems. Chelation therapy helps prevent extra iron from damaging your organs. You get this treatment as a pill or shot.

Can you have mild anemia with alpha thalassemia?

People who have alpha or beta thalassemia trait can have mild anemia. However, many people who have these types of thalassemia have no signs or symptoms. Mild anemia can make you feel tired. Mild anemia caused by alpha thalassemia trait might be mistaken for iron-deficiency anemia.

Can you pass on thalassemia to your children?

If you only get 1 mutated gene, you will have no signs or symptoms of thalassemia, but you can still pass on the gene mutation to your children (this is called being a “carrier”. If you get 2 mutated genes, you will have mild symptoms. If you get 3, you’ll have moderate to severe symptoms.

What are famous people that have thalassemia?

• Zinedine Zidane.
• Dr. Kohan Shalomim Yahoshua Halahawi.
• Amitabh Bachchan.
• Pete Sampras.

  What are the causes of thalassemia?

  The causes of thalassemia are: Inheriting abnormal and mutated genes involved in the hemoglobin production from parents. If one of your parents is a carrier for thalassemia, you may also become a carrier of the disorder yourself, though you will not have any sign and symptoms.

  What are the effects of thalassemia?

  Various long term effects due to thalassemia involve severe anemia, splenomegaly, hepatomegaly, bone deformation, increased risk of fracture, iron toxicity and organ failure.

  How do you diagnose thalassemia?

  The diagnosis of thalassemia is made through studies such as bone marrow examination, hemoglobin electrophoresis, and iron count. The CBC count and peripheral blood film examination results are usually sufficient to suspect the diagnosis.