Every year 10,000 children are born with Thalassemia Major in India. Generally in thalassemia major due to lack of blood in the body, regular blood transfusion is required every two weeks. Children with thalassemia require about 15 to 60 bottles of blood annually.
Every year 8th May is observed as International Thalassemia Day to create public awareness about Thalassemia. According to doctors, thalassemia minor is not a disease but a chromosomal abnormality, while thalassemia major is a fatal disease. A person suffering from Thalassemia Major suffers from many serious problems like anemia. If both husband and wife have thalassemia minor, their child has a 25 percent chance of having thalassemia major. Apart from this, if one of the spouses has thalassemia major, then the child’s chances of having thalassemia major also increase.
Thalassemia minor occurs when a child inherits a chromosomal defect from either parent. Thalassemia major occurs when both the parents of the child have a chromosomal defect or abnormality. In thalassemia minor there is a defect or abnormality in the chromosomes, but there is no disorder, they are usually healthy and symptom-free. That is, any person who looks healthy from outside can have thalassemia minor. 8 out of 10 people in India are not even aware that they are a thalassemia carrier. Hence getting tested for thalassemia is one of the most important decisions in one’s life and the future of his family.
