Thalassemia

Overview

Thalassemia is a group of inherited blood disorders in which insufficient hemoglobin is produced. Severity varies from asymptomatic to severe, with symptoms including fatigue, pallor, jaundice, and delayed growth.

Symptoms

• Pallor
• Fatigue
• Delayed growth and development
• Hepatosplenomegaly
• Jaundice

Treatment

Mild forms usually need no special treatment; moderate to severe forms are managed with regular transfusions combined with iron chelation, and severe cases may be considered for hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, with long-term specialist follow-up.

Dietary advice

Eat a balanced diet, avoid indiscriminate iron supplementation, appropriately supplement folate, and eat plenty of vitamin-rich fruits and vegetables.