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Condition & Symptoms of Thalassemia

Thalassemia, also known as Mediterranean anemia, is a disorder that causes the blood to contain inadequate amounts of red blood cells and hemoglobin. This condition is inherited and is most prevalent in individuals of Italian, Middle Eastern, Greek, African, Chinese, Filipino and southern Asian descent.

  1. Symptoms

    • Symptoms of thalassemia may include weakness, fatigue, irritability, shortness of breath, dark-colored urine, jaundice and pale-colored skin. Individuals with severe cases of thalassemia may experience slow growth, protruding abdominal area and facial bone deformities.

    Onset

    • Symptoms of thalassemia may begin at birth; individuals with thalassemia usually display symptoms sometime before the age of 2.

    Alpha-thalassemia

    • Alpha-thalassemia may occur when a child inherits one or more defective genes from his or her parents. The severity of the condition depends on how many defective genes are inherited. Children with one gene do not have symptoms, those with two genes have mild symptoms and those with three genes have more severe symptoms.

    Beta-thalassemia

    • Another type of thalassemia is beta-thalassemia. Children born with one defective beta hemoglobin gene have mild symptoms and those born with two defective genes have more severe symptoms.

    Complications

    • Individuals with thalassemia are at increased risk of blood infections and excessive iron levels that may damage the liver, heart or endocrine system.

    Treatment

    • Mild thalassemia may not require any treatment. In some cases blood transfusions may be needed following surgery or childbirth. Severe cases of thalassemia may require frequent blood transfusions and even bone marrow transplants.

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