How does thalassemia minor affect the body?

Thalassemia can quickly lead to anemia. This condition is marked by a lack of oxygen being transported to tissues and organs. Since red blood cells are responsible for delivering oxygen, a reduced number of these cells means you don’t have enough oxygen in the body either. Your anemia may be mild to severe.

How does thalassemia make you feel?

Thalassemia can cause anemia, leaving you fatigued. If you have mild thalassemia, you might not need treatment. But more severe forms might require regular blood transfusions. You can take steps to cope with fatigue, such as choosing a healthy diet and exercising regularly.

How do I know if I have thalassemia minor?

If your doctor suspects your child has thalassemia, he or she can confirm a diagnosis with blood tests. Blood tests can reveal the number of red blood cells and abnormalities in size, shape or color. Blood tests can also be used for DNA analysis to look for mutated genes.

What should I do if I have thalassemia minor?

People with thalassemia minor or trait usually do not need blood transfusions because they either do not have anemia or have only a mild anemia. Many times people with thalassemia are prescribed a supplemental B vitamin, known as folic acid, to help treat anemia. Folic acid can help red blood cells develop.

Does thalassemia minor affect periods?

Puberty may be delayed or progress abnormally in teenagers with thalassemia, due to iron build up impairing the function of the pituitary gland. This may lead to complications such as: Absence of menstruation, known as amenorrhea.

Can thalassemia cause hair loss?

Skin and hair may receive less oxygen from the blood during iron deficiency, causing them to become dry and damaged. In more severe cases, this may lead to hair loss.

Can thalassemia cause weight gain?

The signs and symptoms of thalassemia major appear within the first 2 years of life. Children develop life-threatening anemia. They do not gain weight and grow at the expected rate (failure to thrive) and may develop yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes (jaundice).

Is thalassemia minor curable?

This situation can very closely resemble that with mild iron-deficiency anemia. However, persons with thalassemia minor have a normal blood iron level (unless they are iron deficient for other reasons). No treatment is necessary for thalassemia minor.

Can thalassemia patients marry?

Aim: With good care, patients with transfusion-dependent thalassemia major (TDTM) can reach older ages, marry and reproduce.

Does thalassemia minor affect fertility?

Although spontaneous fertility can occur in well-transfused and well-chelated patients with thalassemia, infertility mainly due to HH still remains one of the most common morbidities and obstacles for having children [9,10,11,12,13,14,15]. In our cohort, male and female fertility rates were 50\%.

Can thalassemia minor donate blood?

You must not donate blood if you have had babesiosis. You will be permanently deferred. If you have G6PD (Glucose-6-Phosphate Dehydrogenase Deficiency) or Thalassemia (minor), you can donate blood if you meet the haemoglobin requirement.

Can thalassemia minor cause headaches?

Sickle cell anemia and thalassemia are types of anemia that cause red blood cells to become stickier and form clots or to form an abnormal shape. These conditions can also lead to headaches.

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