When both parents are thalassaemia carriers (trait) their child may become diseased. A person born with thalassaemia disease suffers from chronic anemia. Without any treatment they usually die by the age of 5 years. Thalassaemia causes the body to make fewer healthy red blood cells and less haemoglobin than normal. Hemoglobin is the oxygen-carrying component of the red blood cells. It consists of
two different proteins, an alpha and a beta. If the body doesn't produce enough of either of these two proteins, the red blood cells do not form properly and cannot carry sufficient oxygen. The result is anemia that begins in early childhood and lasts throughout life. beta thalassaemia is more common in people of Mediterranean descent, such as Italians and Greeks, and is also found in the Arabian Peninsula, Iran, Africa, Southeast Asia and southern China. There are three types of beta thalassaemia that also range from mild to severe in their effect on the body. Frequently Asked questions (FAQ):
1. If only one parent is carrier of thalassemia, is there any probability for the child of being patient? If only one parent is carrier, then the child might be a carrier. But there is no chance of being patient.
2. If one parent is patient and other parent is fine, is there any probability of the child of being patient? The child may be carrier only
3. In which area this disease is more likely to be seen? Ans: Coastal Area
6. Are all the treatments of thalassemia available in Bangladesh? Bone marrow transplant and gene therapy are not available in Bangladesh. But Blood transfusion and other medicines are available.
7. Are all the treatments available in all the areas of Bangladesh? All the treatments are mostly available in Dhaka. But in other cities there is much less facilities.
8. Is all the city of Bangladesh has the facility of Hb Electrophoresis test to identify the thalassemia carrier? Dhaka and other big cities have the facilities. But other small cities and villages don’t have any kind of such facility.
