What is thalassemia minor (trait) means?
This is a form of thalassemia. It does not affect the health of the person who has thalassemia minor. It will not impair your work or your life style. A thalassemia trait (minor) will always be a trait. It will never turn in to a severe form of thalassemia major. It is due to genetic defect. Although they are completely normal but they carry the defective gene and pass it on to the next generation. Therefore they are also called thalassemia carrier. There are two types of thalassemia traits (minor): Alpha thalassemia trait (minor) and Beta thalassemia trait (minor).
What is the long-term effect of thalassemia minor on my child’s life?
Thalassemia minor does not affect health of your child; however, there is a possibility that their children can have thalassemia minor. There is also a possibility that their children can get thalassemia major disease (a severe form of thalassemia), if their husband or wife is also a thalassemia carrier.
What are the investigations to confirm thalassemia minor in a child?
he following tests identify most types of thalassemia trait. It can all be done by one-time blood test.
- Complete blood count
- Hemoglobin electrophoresis
- Thalassemia Alpha and Beta gene study
- Family screening for thalassemia.
How can I help my family members if I know that I have a child with thalassemia carrier (minor)?
If you know that your child has a thalassemia trait (minor) carrier, you may have questions about how this will affect your family members. Informing other family members of the possibility that they may also have thalassemia minor (carrier) will be useful.
Does the child with thalassemia minor need treatment with iron medicine?
Complete blood count (CBC) of children with thalassemia carrier (minor) may be similar to iron deficiency anemia. Therefore, they are being prescribed iron medicine believing that they are having iron deficiency anemia. Therefore, they often get excess iron supplements unnecessarily. Children with thalassemia minor should only take iron medicine if a blood test confirms there is iron deficiency. Knowing the fact that your child has thalassemia carrier (minor), your child can avoid unnecessary intake of iron medicine.