Thalassaemia

Beta Thalassaemia Major is an inherited genetic blood disorder that reduces the amount of haemoglobin your body can produce and results in severe anaemia. If both parents are B-Thalassaemia carriers, the child has a 1 in 4 chance of being born with Beta Thalassaemia Major, a 1 in 2 chance of being a carrier and a 1 in 4 chance of not being a carrier or inheriting B-Thalassaemia Major.B-Thalassaemia Major presents in early childhood and children become anaemic between the ages of 3-18 months.

The main treatment for B-thalassaemia major is regular blood transfusions and desferal infusions for the treatment of chronic iron overload due to the blood transfusion. This treatment is ongoing for the rest of their lives.