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BETA THALASSEMIA SYMPTOMS, CAUSE & PREVENTION “Get yourself and your spouse tested for the Thalassemia Trait to make sure that your children are not Beta Thalassemics” Beta Thalassemia is a genetic disease. This means two things: Beta Thalassemics are born with the disease. If a person does not have beta thalassemia at birth, then he or she can never contract it The disease is inherited by children from their parents, i.e. parents of beta thalassemics will always have the beta thalassemia trait Beta Thalssemia is detected within 6 to 24 months of child birth. So if you are reading this page and don’t have Beta Thalassemia, then you will never have it. However, even if you don’t have Beta Thalassemia, it is possible that your newborn children can have it. There are roughly 6 crore people in India who have Beta Thalassemia Minor, a very mild form of Beta Thalassemia. Since this mild form of the disease does not impact them directly, most of them are unaware of this. However if two people who have Beta Thalassemia Minor get married, there is a 25% chance that their children will have the dangerous Beta Thalassemia disease. It is thus advised that people getting married should take a simple blood test and ensure that both the partners are not Beta Thalassemia Minors. Here is a list of places where you can get yourself and your spouse tested for the Beta Thalassemia Minor. Please feel free to reach out to info@fbaindia.org if you have any questions about testing. SYMPTOMS As mentioned in the Deep Medical Explanation section, Beta Thalassemia has two mild forms – Beta Thalassemia Minor and Beta Thalassemia Intermedia. These two mild forms are not Silent carriers and persons with beta thalassemia trait (also called carriers) usually have no symptoms. Those with beta thalassemia trait often have mild anemia that may be found by a blood test. In more severe types of thalassemia, such as Thalassemia major signs of the severe anemia are seen in early childhood and may include: Fatigue and weakness Pale skin or jaundice (yellowing of skin) Protruding abdomen with enlarged belly (spleen and liver) Dark urine Improper growth of facial bones and poor overall growth If you see these symptoms in your new born child, it is advisable to get the child tested for Beta Thalassemia. If there is one message that you want to take away from this page, please remember to get yourself and your spouse tested for the Thalassemia Trait. Click here for references