Children with Thalassemia?

Reply to Children with Thalassemia? on Mon, 27 Dec 2010 18:15:49 GMT

Red_Snow — Mon, 27 Dec 2010 18:15:49 GMT

I’m a Thal carrier, found out only when I was preg with my first child. Luckily my hubby is normal. Now with 3 kids only my first born is a carrier. There is a Thal registry at KK and according to the nurse only 3% of singaporean with Thal.

Reply to Children with Thalassemia? on Tue, 21 Dec 2010 16:58:50 GMT

atrecord — Tue, 21 Dec 2010 16:58:50 GMT

DW is a carrier (i.e. alpha T), detected at her gynae’s clinic. i was advised to take test too, and it was negative, so we were given green light to have kids.

Green light in that kids would be either normal, or at worst, carrier (like DW). If both parents are carriers, then there is a one-quarter chance that the kid will manifest thalessemia, which is a form of anemia, and often live threatening.

Both DD and DS were tested after childbirth, and DD is also carrier and DS is normal.

DW does have faint spell occasionally. when we went europe in winter, her hands were freezing cold (not like mine were still warm, but at least not so cold). Since blood keeps us warm, I assume that her being a carrier played a part.

DW and DD are otherwise normal.

Reply to Children with Thalassemia? on Fri, 19 Nov 2010 15:15:20 GMT

vlim — Fri, 19 Nov 2010 15:15:20 GMT

verykiasu2010:
thought there is a national register for Thalassemia ?

I have called up KK hospital nurse hotline to enquiry about thalassemia. The nurse advise me to bring my dd to their paediatrician to do a thalassemia blood test or I can choose to go to private paediatrician to do the test. She said is not life threatening ...so hope everything is fine... :scared:

Reply to Children with Thalassemia? on Fri, 19 Nov 2010 08:16:49 GMT

3Boys — Fri, 19 Nov 2010 08:16:49 GMT

ZacK:
We went for blood test before trying for kids because DW has Thalassemia minor, does not affect her lifestyle other than she is anaemic and prone to fainting spells.

So far both my boys have G6PD, which I think was largely due to my wife Thalassemia condition. Wonder if this is the same for mothers with the same condition?

Not related.

G6PD is an enzyme deficiency, and sex-linked --> http://kidshealth.org/parent/general/aches/g6pd.html

Thal is due to abnormal haemoglobin formation, and occurs equally in males and females (autosomal recessive) --> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thalassemia

Reply to Children with Thalassemia? on Fri, 19 Nov 2010 07:24:59 GMT

Jennifer — Fri, 19 Nov 2010 07:24:59 GMT

ZacK:
So far both my boys have G6PD

My boys do not hv this deficiency.

Reply to Children with Thalassemia? on Fri, 19 Nov 2010 02:33:31 GMT

verykiasu2010 — Fri, 19 Nov 2010 02:33:31 GMT

thought there is a national register for Thalassemia ?

Reply to Children with Thalassemia? on Fri, 19 Nov 2010 01:28:59 GMT

duriz — Fri, 19 Nov 2010 01:28:59 GMT

DH is Thalassemia minor, inherited from MIL.

I do not have that blood trait.

DD had blood tests done after birth due to jaundice, I’d requested her PD to test for Thalassemia. Test came back negative. DD inherited my blood trait.

DH gets tired easily but he keeps a fairly active lifestyle, jogging at least 3 times a week and swimming with DD, at least 3 times a week as well.

Thalassemia cause the body to make fewer healthy red blood cells and less haemoglobin than normal. Haemoglobin is an iron-rich protein in red blood cells. It carries oxygen to all parts of the body. Haemoglobin also carries carbon dioxide from the body to the lungs, where it’s exhaled.

People who have thalassemia can have mild or severe anaemia. This condition is caused by a lower than normal number of red blood cells or not enough hemoglobin in the red blood cells.

Reply to Children with Thalassemia? on Fri, 19 Nov 2010 01:14:21 GMT

ZacK — Fri, 19 Nov 2010 01:14:21 GMT

We went for blood test before trying for kids because DW has Thalassemia minor, does not affect her lifestyle other than she is anaemic and prone to fainting spells.

So far both my boys have G6PD, which I think was largely due to my wife Thalassemia condition. Wonder if this is the same for mothers with the same condition?

Reply to Children with Thalassemia? on Thu, 18 Nov 2010 14:04:16 GMT

Jennifer — Thu, 18 Nov 2010 14:04:16 GMT

3Boys:
Folks, Thal trait does not cause low blood pressure, it causes low red cell count. Yes, one may suffer increased fatigue and low effort tolerance, but it is on account of the cell count. Thal is hereditary, the majority have minor forms, but if 2 carriers have a child together, the child may end up with a severe form.

Yes, I also hv low red blood count.

I only knew I am a carrier after I did a pre-martial blood test.

My boys' PD also advised us to let them take the test when they are older.

Reply to Children with Thalassemia? on Thu, 18 Nov 2010 13:17:20 GMT

pecalis — Thu, 18 Nov 2010 13:17:20 GMT

3Boys:
Folks, Thal trait does not cause low blood pressure, it causes low red cell count. Yes, one may suffer increased fatigue and low effort tolerance, but it is on account of the cell count. Thal is hereditary, the majority have minor forms, but if 2 carriers have a child together, the child may end up with a severe form.

Major thalassemia is no joke. By right, any couple planning to get married should go for blood test to to make sure both parties are not carriers. I have a friend who suffered from major thalassemia did not live pass his teenage yrs. Not to frighten readers here but such pain can be avoided with knowledge and precaution.

JMHO

Reply to Children with Thalassemia? on Thu, 18 Nov 2010 12:32:36 GMT

3Boys — Thu, 18 Nov 2010 12:32:36 GMT

Folks, Thal trait does not cause low blood pressure, it causes low red cell count. Yes, one may suffer increased fatigue and low effort tolerance, but it is on account of the cell count. Thal is hereditary, the majority have minor forms, but if 2 carriers have a child together, the child may end up with a severe form.

Reply to Children with Thalassemia? on Thu, 18 Nov 2010 12:09:22 GMT

vlim — Thu, 18 Nov 2010 12:09:22 GMT

Anyway thanks piccolo and Jennifer for the reply … I will consider go for the test myself also …

Reply to Children with Thalassemia? on Thu, 18 Nov 2010 12:04:49 GMT

Picolo — Thu, 18 Nov 2010 12:04:49 GMT

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

Reply to Children with Thalassemia? on Thu, 18 Nov 2010 11:54:34 GMT

vlim — Thu, 18 Nov 2010 11:54:34 GMT

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

Reply to Children with Thalassemia? on Thu, 18 Nov 2010 11:53:31 GMT

Picolo — Thu, 18 Nov 2010 11:53:31 GMT

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

Reply to Children with Thalassemia? on Thu, 18 Nov 2010 11:50:49 GMT

vlim — Thu, 18 Nov 2010 11:50:49 GMT

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 …

Reply to Children with Thalassemia? on Thu, 18 Nov 2010 11:45:51 GMT

Picolo — Thu, 18 Nov 2010 11:45:51 GMT

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.

Reply to Children with Thalassemia? on Thu, 18 Nov 2010 11:41:42 GMT

Picolo — Thu, 18 Nov 2010 11:41:42 GMT

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…

Reply to Children with Thalassemia? on Thu, 18 Nov 2010 10:50:46 GMT

Jennifer — Thu, 18 Nov 2010 10:50:46 GMT

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.

Reply to Children with Thalassemia? on Thu, 18 Nov 2010 10:27:22 GMT

vlim — Thu, 18 Nov 2010 10:27:22 GMT

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

Reply to Children with Thalassemia? on Thu, 18 Nov 2010 10:05:16 GMT

Jennifer — Thu, 18 Nov 2010 10:05:16 GMT

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.