Thalassemia is common, serious, and entirely preventable as long as couples know their carrier status before deciding to have children.
What Is Thalassemia?
Thalassemia is an inherited blood disorder in which the body does not produce enough haemoglobin. When haemoglobin production is insufficient, red blood cells are destroyed faster than they can be made, causing anaemia.
Thalassemia Minor: The person carries one defective gene and one normal gene. They are a carrier. They are usually healthy and may have mild anaemia. Most carriers do not know they have the trait.
Thalassemia Major: The most severe form. The child inherits two defective genes, one from each parent. Thalassemia Major requires lifelong monthly blood transfusions.
How Is Thalassemia Inherited?
If both parents are carriers, there is a 25 percent chance with each pregnancy that the child will have Thalassemia Major, a 50 percent chance the child will be a carrier, and a 25 percent chance the child will be completely unaffected.
How Common Is It in India?
India has one of the largest Thalassemia carrier populations in the world. Approximately 40 to 50 million Indians are estimated to carry the Thalassemia trait.
What Does Testing Involve?
Thalassemia screening is a straightforward blood test. The result clearly indicates whether you carry the trait.
What If Both Partners Are Carriers?
Knowing you are both carriers does not mean you cannot have children. It means you have information. With that information, you can work with a genetic counsellor to understand your options.
