Children with Thalassemia?

[vlim]

Hi do any parents here have children with Thalassemia. Is it a serious blood disorder?

[Jennifer]

I myself have Alpha Thalassemia which explained for my low blood pressure n fainting spells during my teens. After a mth of prolonged menses, I was seen by a TCM physician. After which I no longer experienced fainting spells.


Other than blood pressure still on the low side and been easily tired, I lead a normal life.

My hubby does not hv Thalassemia, hence we dare to hv children.

[vlim]

ok..my dd last blood test findings is suggestive of thalassamia..so going for a detail test next week. Hope is mild..

[Jennifer]

vlim:

ok..my dd last blood test findings is suggestive of thalassamia..so going for a detail test next week. Hope is mild..

Are u or your hubby a carrier? If only one of u is a carrier, then the child is likely to be a carrier too (like my case).

I know there are two types- Beta and Alpha. Beta carriers are more common than Alpha carrier. I did not bother to check the difference between the two, just need to confirm my then-boyfriend (now hubby) is not a carrier.

Dun worry too much. A child who has the serious Thalassamia disorder wld hv bn uncovered long ago since babyhood.

[Picolo]

Think I have Thalassamia K-traits. Like what Jennifer shared, other than being tired more easily than the rest of the people, and blood pressure on the low side of normal range, life is very normal. I don’t even know that I have this until I was tested during pregnancy. So long as your partner does not have Thalassamia, it should be fine. No worries…

[Picolo]

BTW, if your dd has it, you and your hubby should go for the Thalassamia test (easily done at Polyclinic) to find out who is the carrier. I found out my dad is the 'culprit'. And guess what, he didn't know until he went for the test in his sixties.

[vlim]

Neither my dh or I have went for thalassemia test. The test which I have taken so far didn’t state specifically that I have thalassemia. But red blood count was pretty low once. I also get tired easily. So I suppose I also have thalassemia?? My dd have been looking pale since young. My elder also look pale but as he grow he looks better. So hope it will Not affect her from giving birth in future …

[Picolo]

vlim, you can go to any polyclinic - lab section to ask specifically for a test for thalassemia. It’s quite cheap.

[vlim]

But what is the purpose for my dh or me to go for the test ??? Does it help in some way?

[Picolo]

Only purpose is to know whose family line has the genetic defect, if you care about it. Most likely your dd has thalassemia minor which does not need any treatment. For more info:


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thalassemia