ChamberThalassemia · থ্যালাসেমিয়া
Thalassemia is an inherited blood disorder in which the body makes less or abnormal haemoglobin, the protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen, leading to anaemia. It ranges from mild to severe, and regular specialist care helps people with thalassemia live healthier lives.
What is thalassemia?
Thalassemia is passed down through genes from parents to children. Because the body cannot make enough normal haemoglobin, red blood cells carry less oxygen, causing anaemia. The two main types are alpha and beta thalassemia, and severity ranges from a silent carrier state to serious, transfusion-dependent disease.
Symptoms
Carriers often have no symptoms. More severe thalassemia, usually appearing in childhood, can cause:
- Tiredness, weakness and pale or yellowish skin
- Poor growth and delayed development in children
- Shortness of breath and a fast heartbeat
- An enlarged spleen, bone changes and frequent infections in severe cases
Causes and risk factors
Thalassemia is caused by changes in the genes that control haemoglobin production, inherited from one or both parents. The risk is higher when there is a family history and is more common in certain populations, including in Bangladesh. If both parents are carriers, a child can inherit a more severe form.
Diagnosis
Thalassemia is diagnosed with blood tests, including a full blood count and haemoglobin analysis, and confirmed by genetic testing. Carrier screening and, where appropriate, prenatal testing can identify the condition early and inform family planning decisions.
Treatment
Mild thalassemia may need little or no treatment. More severe forms are managed with regular blood transfusions and iron-removal (chelation) therapy to prevent iron overload, both supervised by a haematologist. A stem-cell (bone marrow) transplant can cure some children, and newer gene therapies are emerging.
Prevention and family planning
Because thalassemia is inherited, carrier screening before marriage or pregnancy is the key way to prevent severe cases. Genetic counselling helps couples who are both carriers understand the risks and options. Living well also includes good nutrition and regular specialist follow-up.
When to see a doctor
See a doctor if a child has persistent tiredness, paleness or poor growth, or if you have a family history of thalassemia and are planning to marry or have children. A haematologist can confirm the diagnosis, plan care and arrange carrier screening.
Doctors who treat Thalassemia
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Common medicines prescribed
Frequently asked questions
Is thalassemia contagious?
No. Thalassemia is not infectious and cannot be caught from another person. It is a genetic condition inherited from parents through their genes.
What does it mean to be a thalassemia carrier?
A carrier (thalassemia trait) usually has no symptoms and is healthy, but can pass the gene to children. If both partners are carriers, there is a higher chance of a child with severe thalassemia, which is why screening matters.
Can thalassemia be cured?
Many people manage well with transfusions and chelation therapy. A bone marrow (stem-cell) transplant can cure some children, and gene therapy is an emerging option. A haematologist can explain what is suitable.
Why is screening before marriage recommended?
Screening tells couples whether they are carriers. If both are carriers, genetic counselling explains the risks and options, helping prevent severe thalassemia in children.