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There are three types of beta thalassemia that also range from mild to severe in their effect on the body.
- Thalassemia Minor or Thalassemia
- Thalassemia Intermedia
- Thalassemia Major or Cooley's Anemia
Beta thalassemia
Alpha thalassemia
Thalassemia minor
Thalassemia major
Thalassemia Symptom
Signs and symptoms of beta thalassemia are severe in the form of the disorder known as thalassemia major and milder in the form called thalassemia intermedia. Signs and symptoms of thalassemia major appear in the first 2 years of life.
Infants become pale and listless, have poor appetites, grow slowly, and often develop Constipation. The spleen, liver, and heart may also be enlarged.
BETA THALASSEMIA MINOR (HETEROZYGOUS) (B+)
This is the most common of the thalassemias. Beta chain production is less than normal due to the failure of one of the genes coding for beta chains.
BETA THALASSEMIA MAJOR (HOMOZYGOUS) (B0)
In beta thalassemia major there is a complete failure of beta chain production.
These patients are well at birth but develop a life threatening anemia by one or two months. They must be supported with blood transfusions which result in iron overload.
BETA THALASSEMIA Intermediate
Children with beta-thalassemia intermedia have varying effects from the disease - mild anemia might be their only symptom or they might require regular blood transfusions.
The most distinguishing factor in the severity of beta-thalassemia intermedia is whether the child can survive without regular blood transfusions.
Some children may require a transfusion only occasionally.
In other children, low or falling hemoglobin levels greatly reduce the blood's ability to carry oxygen to the body, resulting in extreme fatigue, poor growth, and facial abnormalities.
Regular transfusions can help alleviate these problems.
Mediterranean anemia
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