Thalassemia

Thalassemia is a condition which consists of a multitude of hereditarily attracted health disorders. The condition is existent when there are complications with the natural production of hemoglobin. This relates to the hemoglobin genes so the condition could be passed through the family. Thalassemia is usually inherited so in an attempt to diagnose the condition you could always factor in relatives with the condition when completing a quick diagnosis at home.

Common Symptoms of Thalassemia
There are many symptoms for thalassemia but some of them are associated with other health conditions as well. Some of the more common symptoms include the following: frequent tiredness, feeling weak, having difficulties breathing, being very irritable, and more. The symptoms that are noticed in a patient with thalassemia will vary by person but usually a few or more of these common symptoms would be noticed.

A few other symptoms that are often noticed with thalassemia patients include regular headaches, an enlarged spleen, and deformities of the child’s facial structure (bones).

Other Symptoms
There are a few other symptoms which occur in thalassemia patients but may be less common or harder to identify. This would include skin symptoms such as pale skin or jaundice, slow development, abnormally dark urine, abdomens bulging, and more.

People with thalassemia may notice that their urine tends to be darker than normal. The dark urine is not always existent but it can be noticed in certain cases of thalassemia. The symptoms that occur will depend on the severity of the thalassemia in the patient.

When the Symptoms Occur
Some people with thalassemia will first have these symptoms shortly after birth. For others it may be noticed within the first few years of the child’s life. In some cases the symptoms may not develop or be noticed until a later age but it should be noticeable by the time the child is between six and eight years old. If some of the symptoms for thalassemia are noticed in your child then you will want to speak with your doctor immediately to give an appropriate diagnosis for the condition.

Not everyone with thalassemia will notice the symptoms that are associated with the condition. If the patient only has a single hemoglobin gene which is affected with the condition then there is a good chance that most of, if not all, the symptoms are not existent.

Treating Thalassemia
There are no effective treatments which are required for thalassemia patients but some doctors will recommend you to use iron supplements. This will not always be necessary but some doctors may feel that it will be beneficial for you to use them.

However, a more serious form of this condition (thalassemia major) does have a treatment method available. This condition is usually treated with a blood transfusion. This procedure is done approximately once a month. Desferal injections are often used in combination with the blood transfusions as a way to remove excessive iron from your body. The excess of iron is caused by additional blood being transferred to your body. The injection is done subcutaneously with the use of a pump every night. Your doctor may recommend that you only complete the injections for five days of each week but many doctors will recommend daily use of the injections.

There are other possible treatment methods for thalassemia as well but some of them are still being researched. You should speak with your doctor if you are attempting to diagnose thalassemia in your child. Lastly, speak with your doctor and find out about the proper treatment method for your case so you can treat the condition as best as possible.

Last updated on Mar 28th, 2010 and filed under Other Conditions & Diseases. Both comments and pings are currently closed.

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