Thalassemia refers to a group of blood diseases that can result in mild to severe anemia. This part of the eMedTV Web site discusses the various forms of this condition, as well as symptoms, treatment options, and more.
There are two types of thalassemia: alpha and beta. This section of the eMedTV Web site describes thalassemia and who it affects. While anyone can get it, the condition seems to affect people in certain ethnic groups more than others.
Beta thalassemia affects a person's ability to produce hemoglobin, which can result in anemia. This eMedTV segment takes a closer look at this disorder, including information on possible symptoms, treatment options, and inheritance patterns.
People with Cooley's anemia have less hemoglobin and fewer red blood cells than normal in their blood. This eMedTV Web page discusses the condition in detail, including causes, how it is inherited, symptoms, treatment options, and prognosis.
As this eMedTV page explains, thalassemia can be caused by many possible combinations of variant genes. This article offers an in-depth look at the causes of this condition, which are linked to the genes that affect hemoglobin production.
As this eMedTV article explains, thalassemia symptoms occur when not enough oxygen is delivered to various parts of the body. This page includes a detailed list of possible signs and symptoms, including anemia, jaundice, and poor growth.
This eMedTV page describes how doctors make a thalassemia diagnosis using different blood tests. People with milder forms of the disease may receive a diagnosis after a routine blood test shows that they have anemia not caused by an iron deficiency.
How is thalassemia inherited? The condition is passed from parent to child. However, as this eMedTV page explains, the type of thalassemia a child develops (or even if the condition develops) depends on whether the gene came from one or both parents.
This eMedTV page describes possible treatments for thalassemia, including surgery and stem cell transplants. Iron chelation therapy, which is another type of treatment, removes excess iron that builds up in the body with regular blood transfusions.
This eMedTV resource describes current research on gene therapy for thalassemia major, which may offer a cure for the disease. This genetic therapy could involve inserting genes to replace abnormal ones or encouraging fetal hemoglobin production.
This eMedTV Web page provides a list of suggestions for people who are living with thalassemia. For example, it's important to maintain a healthy diet, follow your recommended treatment plan, and get a yearly flu shot to prevent infections.
Approximately 100,000 babies worldwide are born with severe forms of thalassemia each year. This eMedTV page offers an in-depth look at the link between thalassemia and pregnancy, including options for couples with the condition who want to conceive.
While there is really no such thing as thalassemia prevention, this page on the eMedTV site explains how prenatal diagnosis and genetic counseling can help minimize the chances of having a baby with the disease.
This eMedTV resource takes a look at thalassemia research on gene therapy and fetal hemoglobin. Scientists hope that by finding ways to enhance production of fetal hemoglobin in people with thalassemia, they can lessen the severity of the disease.
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