What are the chances of having a baby with thalassemia?

If both parents have beta thalassemia trait, there is a 25 percent (1 in 4) chance with each pregnancy of having a child with beta thalassemia disease. Beta thalassemia disease is a lifelong illness with serious health problems.

Can you get thalassemia if only one parent has it?

When only one parent has beta thalassemia trait and the other does not have a blood trait, there is essentially no chance of having a baby with any form of beta thalassemia disease. However, each child has a 50\% (or 1 in 2) chance to inherit beta thalassemia trait from the parent.

Can I pass thalassemia to my kids?

Beta thalassemia is an inherited problem. It is passed from parents to children. Thalassemia major is inherited when two carrier parents who have thalassemia minor pass it on to their child.

What is thalassemia ratio?

If the quotient of the mean corpuscular volume (MCV, in fL) divided by the red blood cell count (RBC, in Millions per microLiter) is less than 13, thalassemia is said to be more likely. If the result is greater than 13, then iron-deficiency anemia is said to be more likely.

At what age is thalassemia detected?

The symptoms of beta thalassemia major occur when an infant is between 6 and 24 months. They include: Poor growth and development. Pale skin.

What happens if one parent has alpha thalassemia?

When only one parent has alpha thalassemia trait and the other does not, there is no chance of having a baby with the most severe form of alpha thalassemia. However, each child has a 50\% (or 1 in 2) chance to inherit the trait from the parent.

Does thalassemia skip a generation?

Thalassemia is an inherited condition. The genes received from one’s parents before birth determine whether a person will have thalassemia. Thalassemia cannot be caught or passed on to another person.

How is thalassemia detected in children?

Thalassemia is diagnosed using blood tests, including a complete blood count (CBC) and specific hemoglobin tests. People who have alpha or beta thalassemia trait may have smaller than normal red blood cells. Moderate and severe thalassemia is usually diagnosed in early childhood within the first two years of life.

What is the normal range of thalassemia?

Hematologic Diagnosis Thalassemia major is characterized by reduced Hb level (<7 g/dl), mean corpuscolar volume (MCV) > 50 < 70 fl and mean corpuscolar Hb (MCH) > 12< 20 pg. Thalassemia intermedia is characterized by Hb level between 7 and 10 g/dl, MCV between 50 and 80 fl and MCH between 16 and 24 pg.

Can thalassemia minor get married?

If one is a Thalassaemia Minor one must get the spouse/future spouse also tested. If both partners in a marriage are Thalassaemia Minor, there is a 25\% chance in every pregnancy that their child will be a Thalassaemia Major.

How long can a thalassemia patient live?

“Most thalassaemia patients would live up to the age of 25 to 30 years. Improved facilities will help them live up to the age of 60,” said Dr Mamata Manglani, head of pediatrics, Sion hospital.

Do both parents have to have alpha thalassemia?

Alpha thalassemia is passed from parents to children. The way it is inherited varies and is complex. If both parents have the gene defect, each of their children has a risk of having alpha thalassemia major. They are also at risk for having hemoglobin H disease, and of being a carrier.

What are the chances of having a child with thalassemia?

A child who inherits two thalassemia trait genes – one from each parent – will have the disease. A child of two carriers has a 25 percent chance of receiving two trait genes and developing the disease, and a 50 percent chance of being a thalassemia trait carrier.

Is alpha thalassemia inherited from the mother or father?

The inheritance of alpha thalassemia is complicated by the fact that mutations in two different genes ( HBA1 and HBA2) are associated with the condition. People have two copies of the HBA1 gene and two copies of the HBA2 gene in each cell. For each gene, one copy is inherited from the mother and one is inherited from the father.

What is a carrier of beta thalassemia?

The parents of an affected person usually each carry one mutated copy of the gene and are referred to as carriers. Carriers typically do not show signs or symptoms of the condition; although some carriers of beta thalassemia develop mild anemia.

What is the difference between thalassemia trait and thalassaemia major?

A person who has thalassemia trait may not have any symptoms at all or may have only mild anemia, while a person with thalassemia major may have severe symptoms and may need regular blood transfusions. In the same way that traits for hair color and body structure are passed down from parents to children,…