Thalassemias are a group of blood disorders that affect the way the body makes hemoglobin. Hemoglobin is a protein found in red blood cells that carries oxygen throughout the body.
The body contains more red blood cells than any other type of cell. Normally, each red blood cell has a life span of about four months. Each day, the body produces new red blood cells to replace those that die or are lost.
But when someone has thalassemia, the red blood cells don’t have enough hemoglobin to function properly. As a result, the red blood cells are destroyed at a faster rate. When the body doesn’t have enough healthy red blood cells, it causes a condition called anemia.
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What are the signs and symptoms of thalassemias?
There are several types of thalassemias, so symptoms might vary. Symptoms can include:
- Feeling very tired
- Weakness
- Pale or yellowish skin
- Facial bone deformities
- Slow growth
- Abdominal swelling
- Dark urine
What causes thalassemias?
Thalassemias are inherited conditions — they’re carried in the genes and passed on from parents to children. People who are carriers of a thalassemia gene show no thalassemia symptoms and might not know they’re carriers. If both parents are carriers, they can pass the disease to their kids. Thalassemias are not contagious.
How are thalassemias treated?
Doctors at Connecticut Children’s can determine the right plan if your child requires treatment for a thalassemia. Some mild cases might not need any treatment, while more severe forms might require regular blood transfusions. We may also recommend diet changes and an exercise plan. Our pediatric experts in blood disorders create a personalized treatment plan for each child.