Thalassemia

[firemonkey]

Doct, please help me... My 17 year old niece has been diagnosed with Thalassemia. I don't know anything about it. She leaves in france..... My sis said that she was given high doses of iron powder. I could not talk so much coz she was crying.... Can you please give more info. Easier to understand coz i researched sa internet but could not understand so much. What type of treatment and is it fatal.... Is prognosis good... She was suffering from severe headaches....

[Ira]

Thalassemia is a hereditary underproduction of either the alpha or beta globin chains of the hemoglobin molecule, resulting in anemia since the hemoglobin isn't functioning too well. I don't know how severe your niece's thalassemia is, but it sometimes doesn't require any specific treatment, and for beta thalassemia types, all is needed is blood transfusions once or twice a month. I don't know why she was given high doses of iron powder by doctors, if that's what you mean by your statement. You actually don't want her iron levels to increase. It's not fatal at all unless it's very severe and untreated. Headache is not a symptom of Thalassemia unless there is bleeding within the brain.

[firemonkey]

Thank you Doc. for the info. My niece used to have nose bleeding every so often. Since she lives in a very cold place she also suffers from colds and sinus problems.. She has never complained before regarding her health..