What is Thalassemia and Thalassemia Carriage?
Thalassemia is a hereditary anemia that is seen in almost every part of the world, but is also known as Mediterranean anemia because it is common in Mediterranean countries. It is a common disease in our country, which is located in the Mediterranean region.
It is typed according to the type of disorders in the "globin" gene found in the structure of hemoglobin. There are 3 main types:
Thalassemia Major: It is a thalassemia disease.
Thalassemia intermedia: It is a mild type of thalassemia disease.
Thalassemia Minor: This is the name given to thalassemia carriers. This picture is not a disease.
How is thalassemia carrier diagnosed?
The diagnosis of thalassemia carriers can be made as a result of screening in families known to be patients or carriers, or as a result of blood tests in adults who apply due to anemia or in children brought by their parents.
The blood of carriers. Their hemoglobin levels, which indicate their level, are generally slightly low compared to their age and gender, meaning they have mild anemia. Since their anemia is unrelated to iron levels (unless there is an accompanying iron deficiency), they do not benefit from iron treatment. In the patient's examinations, the diagnosis can be easily made by carefully interpreting the complete blood count and performing hemoglobin electrophoresis.
If the mother and father are thalassemia carriers, there is a 25% chance of having a normal child, a 50% thalassemia carrier, and a 25% thalassemia major patient child in each pregnancy. . If one of the parents is a thalassemia carrier, each child born has a 50% chance of being a carrier. For this reason, it is important for parents to know whether they are Thalassemia carriers before having children.
Thalassemia carrier is never a disease
Thalassemia carrier is not a disease. It does not require treatment. However, especially in older ages, there may be some fatigue due to age-related decrease in hemoglobin level. Being a thalassemia carrier is never an obstacle to marriage. However, if two carriers decide to get married, these people are in the 10th-11th week of pregnancy. They should have some tests done for prenatal diagnosis before birth in the weeks before birth� They need to know that this is necessary and receive genetic counseling on this issue.
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