World Thalassemia Day is observed on every 8th of May. This day creates awareness about the disease. Thalassemia is the name for a group of inherited conditions that affect a substance in the blood called hemoglobin. People with Thalassemia produce either no or too little hemoglobin, which is used by red blood cells to carry oxygen around the body. This can make them very anemic (tired, short of breath and pale).

Types of thalassemia:

• Alpha Thalassemia – occurs when your gene related to the alpha globin protein (a subunit of hemoglobin) is missing or mutated.
• Beta Thalassemia – occurs when gene defects affect the production of the beta globin protein, which is also a subunit of hemoglobin. Based on the severity of the gene defect, you can suffer from – thalassemia major or thalassemia minor.

Symptoms:

• Fatigue.
• weakness .
• yellowish skin.
• facial bone deformities.

Treatment:

• Frequent blood transfusions. More severe forms of thalassemia often require frequent blood transfusions, possibly every few weeks (severe).
• Chelation therapy. This is treatment to remove excess iron from your blood.
• Stem cell transplant.

Nutritional deficiencies are common in thalassemia and it is recommended that patients going through blood transfusion should opt for a low iron diet. Avoiding iron-fortified foods like cereal, red meat, green leafy vegetables and Vitamin C – rich foods is the best option for patients.

Patients suffering from thalassemia major must continue with their blood transfusion schedule. Follow high levels of personal hygiene, wear a mask and practice social distancing at the hospital too. Check with your healthcare provider for the safest possible environment for receiving transfusions.

Why couples should get screened before considering a baby?

India is one of the worst thalassemia affected countries in the world with more than four crore carriers and over one lakh thalassemia majors under blood transfusion every month. When left unattended or untreated the condition may lead to problems in the liver, kidney, and heart failures. World Thalassemia Day brings light to this condition and helps spread awareness and eliminate all the myths, inaccurate theories and educate people about the required details.

Myth: There is no treatment for Thalassemia Major.
Fact: Thalassemia Majors can live normal life if they are given adequate blood transfusion and iron chelation therapy.

Myth: Thalassemia cannot be cured.
Fact: Thalassemia can be cured by bone marrow transplantation but it requires HLA matched siblings. However, HLA matched donor is not always available.