What are the symptoms of thalassemia major?

Thalassemia can be defined as a blood disorder that is caused due to a defect in the oxygen-carrying protein. This disorder is characteristic of less oxygen-carrying protein – hemoglobin and hence there are fewer red blood cells in the body of a thalassemia patient. The common signs and symptoms associated with the same include – fatigue, weakness, paleness and slow growth.Mild forms may not need treatment. Severe forms may require blood transfusions or a donor stem-cell transplant.

If anyone of your parents is a carrier for thalassemia, then the same can develop a form of the disease and the patient can be known as Thalassemia Minor.

If both of your parents are carriers of thalassemia, you have a greater chance of inheriting a more serious form of the disease.

There are two main forms of thalassemia that are more serious:-

1). Alpha thalassemia and

2). Beta thalassemia.

Thalassemia Major:-

 It is the most severe forms of beta-thalassemia. It develops when beta globin genes are missing. The severe anemia related to this condition can be life-threatening. Other signs and symptoms include :

• Fatigue
• Weakness
•  Jaundice
• Facial bone deformities
• Slow growth
• Abdominal swelling
• Dark urine

Hemoglobin Is The Substance In Your Red Blood Cells That Allows Them To Carry Oxygen.

Other Types of Thalassemia:

There are three major types of thalassemia and four subtypes.

• Beta thalassemia:- Beta thalassemia occurs when your body can’t produce beta globin
• Alpha thalassemia:- Alpha thalassemia occurs when the body cannot make alpha globin.
• Thalassemia minor:-The symptoms of thalassemia major generally appear before a child’s 2^nd  birth.

Treatment for Thalassemia:-

• Blood transfusions
• Bone marrow transplant
• Medications and supplements and
• Possible surgery to remove the spleen or gallbladder