Thalassemia is a very common disease in Pakistan and other South Asian countries. According to the Thalassemia International Organization, Pakistan has the highest prevalence of the disease, where an estimated 5 to 7 percent of the population suffers from thalassemia. This means that nearly 10 million people in Pakistan are suffering from thalassemia. Thalassemia is a genetic disease that occurs due to defects in a group of red blood cells. It prevents the supply of oxygen to the protein, due to which the production of red cells (hemoglobin) is affected. This condition is caused by mutations in genes that control the production of red blood cells. Thalassemia is common in many parts of the world, especially in the Mediterranean countries, Thailand, Cambodia and Laos in Southeast Asia. In the Mediterranean region, Cyprus, Greece and Italy have the highest number of patients.
In addition to the Mediterranean region and Southeast Asia, thalassemia is also found in the Middle East and North Africa. It is more common in these regions in countries like Iran, Iraq and Egypt. Thalassemia is also found in other parts of the world, including South and Central America, the Caribbean, and parts of the United States.
Apart from Pakistan, thalassemia is also common in other South Asian countries including India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Nepal. In India, it is estimated that there are more than 40 million carriers of thalassemia, with the states of Maharashtra, Gujarat and Punjab having the highest number of people with the disease. In Bangladesh, it is estimated that about 7% of the population is affected by thalassemia. In Sri Lanka, this estimate is around 2%, while the rate is higher in the northern and eastern regions of the country. In Nepal, the prevalence of thalassemia is relatively low, with an estimated carrier rate of about 1%.
The high prevalence of thalassemia in South Asian countries is due to a combination of factors, such as lack of awareness of the disease and limited access to testing and treatment, delays and lack of access, high rates of intermarriage within the family, consanguineous marriages, where people are closely related. Marriage among relatives, a practice common in many South Asian countries, greatly increases the risk of thalassemia and other genetic diseases. The genetic basis of thalassemia is the main reason for its high prevalence rate, as many carriers are not aware that they are passing the disease on to their children. Limited access to treatment services is also a major reason for the increase in prevalence rates, as individuals do not have access to the care they need.
Efforts are being made to tackle the high prevalence of thalassemia in South Asian countries. These include increasing awareness of the disease, promoting premarital testing and counseling, and improving access to testing and treatment services. However, much more needs to be done to prevent and manage thalassemia in these countries, and more investment in screening and treatment programs is needed to ensure that people with thalassemia can lead healthy lives.
Thalassemia is classified into two types, alpha thalassemia and beta thalassemia, depending on which {globin} chain is affected. Alpha thalassemia is caused by mutations in the alpha{globin} gene, while beta thalassemia is caused by mutations in the beta {globin} gene.
There are four types of alpha thalassemia, depending on the number of alpha {globin} genes. In this type of alpha thalassemia, only one alpha {globin} gene is missing. This results in mild anemia. Hemoglobin H disease. Three genes are missing. This leaves only 1 working gene. You may have moderate to severe anemia. In alpha thalassemia major, all four alpha {globin} genes are missing, It was resulting in hydrous, a condition that is usually fatal.
There are two types of beta thalassemia, depending on the severity of the condition. In one type of beta thalassemia, only one beta {globin} gene was missing. It was resulting in mild anemia. In beta thalassemia major, both beta {globin} genes were missing. It was resulting in severe anemia.
Treatment for beta thalassemia major may include lifelong blood transfusions. Thalassemia can cause anemia, fatigue, and other health problems. Treatment may include blood transfusions, iron-calcium therapy, and bone marrow transplants. In simple terms, if a husband and wife have latent thalassemia, the future child will have thalassemia major, which means life-long thalassemia. Due to lack of blood transfusion and life expectancy of 15 to 17 years.
People with thalassemia often experience fatigue and weakness due to the lack of healthy red blood cells. People with this disease have pale or jaundiced skin. Anemia can cause shortness of breath, especially during physical activity or exertion. In severe cases of thalassemia, the body is very red, can produce blood cells, causing the spleen and liver to enlarge. Children with thalassemia lack the natural ability to produce healthy blood cells, leaving them thin and weak. The disease can also cause bone deformities, especially affecting the bones of the face and skull.
Prevention is better than cure, so if thalassemia is prevented, the patient and their families can be saved from a lot of emotional and mental trauma, and for this, men and women are tested for thalassemia before marriage. Can be prevented from this deadly disease.
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