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Thalassemia

  • About

  • About Thalassemia treatment

  • Thalassemia is a condition of a genetic blood disorder in which a person is highly anemic because of the low production of hemoglobin in the body. Due to the lack of hemoglobin production in the body, the Red Blood Cells (RBCs) are unable to carry enough oxygen, leading to anemia and fatigue. Mild thalassemia might not require treatment, and one can deal with it by taking steps to deal with symptoms like fatigue. Severe thalassemia needs proper treatment.

  • Types of Thalassemia

  • There are two types of thalassemia based on the chains of the hemoglobin molecule affected by the mutation of genes. If the alpha chain, made up of four genes, is affected, it is known as alpha-thalassemia, and in case the beta chain, made up of two genes, is affected, it is called beta-thalassemia. Alpha-thalassemia can arise from either one, two, or three mutated genes in the alpha hemoglobin chain. Beta-thalassemia is of two types, major (two-gene mutation of the beta hemoglobin chain) and minor (one-gene mutation of the beta hemoglobin chain) thalassemia, depending on the severity and symptoms of the problem.

  • Symptoms

  • Thalassemia symptoms in kids start developing only after six months of their birth because that is when the fetal hemoglobin replaces the normal hemoglobin. Following are the early symptoms of thalassemia:

  • Weakness and frequent fatigue

  • Jaundice, paleness of skin and yellowing of eyes

  • Headache, chest pain,

  • Slow growth and bone deformities

  • Lack of appetite

  • Muscle cramps

  • Cold hands and feet

  • Breathlessness and nausea

  • Frequent infections due to weak immunity

  • Diagnosis

  • In children, thalassemia symptoms appear by the time they turn two years old. The identification of the carriers of thalassemia happens when their children get diagnosed with thalassemia. Doctors evaluate the following elements of the blood during a blood test for diagnosing thalassemia:

  • Complete Blood Count (CBC), to check the level of RBCs and hemoglobin in the blood

  • Reticulocyte Count, or the speed with which the bone marrow is producing the RBCs

  • Iron test that helps to diagnose the causes of anemia

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  • In addition to these, various types of genetic tests and prenatal tests help in the determination of the exact genetic disorder and whether a fetus has thalassemia or not, respectively.

  • Treatment

Blood transfusion: One of the most common and regulated treatments for thalassemia is blood transfusion. The process replenishes the lower levels of hemoglobin in the body by increasing the count of red blood cells in the blood. This process takes time, and the patient has to undergo eight to twelve transfusions at a regular interval in a year to complete the treatment. Many thalassemic patients can lead a healthy life with this treatment.

Bone marrow transplant: The function of bone marrow is to produce the blood cells, including White Blood Cells (WBCs), Red Blood Cells (RBCs), and platelets. A bone marrow transplant is efficient and helpful in the production of an appropriate amount of RBCs to maintain the level of hemoglobin in the body.

Iron Chelation: Regular and frequent blood transfusions can cause an excess of iron in the blood, which directly affects the heart and other vital organs of the body. Doctors prescribe deferoxamine or other drugs to remove excess iron and regulate the quantity of iron in the body.

Others: In the case of bone abnormalities or spleen enlargements, doctors may prescribe surgical procedures. Researchers and doctors are also working on other treatments like Gene Therapy.

  • Costs

Thalassemia Treatment in India

  • The total cost of thalassemia treatment in India starts from USD 30000.

  • The success rate of thalassemia treatment in India is almost 70 percent

  • The top hospitals for thalassemia treatment in India are Fortis Gurgaon, Dharamshila Narayana and BLK Hospital. The best doctors in the field are Dr. Rahul Bhargava, Dr. Suparno Chakrabarti, and Dr. Dharma Chaudhary.

  • The patient needs to stay for almost 90 days in India for thalassemia treatment.

  • Factors affecting

  • Factors affecting cost of treatments in the states of India.

  • Thalassemia Treatment In Kolkata: Many patients get their treatment from the best hospitals in Kolkata as they offer excellent follow-up care as well.

  • Thalassemia Treatment In Pune: The cost of diagnosis and testing has been significant;y brought down in Pune due to an increase in the number of labs and hospitals.

  • Thalassemia Treatment In Delhi: Some of the best research institutes and hospitals in India are there in Delhi for the treatment of thalassemia.

  • Thalassemia Treatment In Mumbai: In addition to world-class infrastructure, Mumbai has some of the best surgeons and doctors with years of experience in treating thalassemia.

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