Pre-marriage testing can prevent Thalassemia in newborn
Source: Chronicle News Service / Sagolsem Bigyak
Imphal, February 09 2022:
Informing that there are 25 per cent chances of a baby being born with Thalassemia if both parents have this blood disorder, health services additional director Dr Laikhuram Tomcha Khuman said that pre-marriage testing of both the partners can prevent this inherited blood disorder to their child.
Speaking to The People's Chronicle exclusively, Dr Tomcha explained that Thalassemia is a genetic blood disorder that causes the body to have less haemoglobin that enables Red Blood Cells (RBC) to carry oxygen.
Having less haemoglobin damages the RBC thereby causing anaemia.
Having this blood disorder leaves a person fatigued, weak, pale, slow growth and dark urine.
Severe anaemia leads to deformation of skull, enlarged spleen and increased level of iron affecting heart and liver.
Bone marrow expansion also makes bones thinner and brittle, increasing the chance of broken bones.
As of now, there are around 200 reported cases of Thalassemia in the state.
Out of these, 120 are minor carriers, while 30 suffer from major cases and 50 from intermedia cases.
Patients with major and intermedia Thalassemia need regular infusion of RBC either weekly or monthly.
Physical examination along with checking blood pressure and pulse level is the first step to detect suspected case of Thalassemia.
Further diagnosis is conducted through Complete Blood Count (CBC), Genetic Testing, Iron level test and prenatal test.
These tests determine the haemoglobin level, shapes of RBCs, iron level to check whether the subject has Thalassemia or not.
Diagnosis facility is available at RIMS and JNIMS, Dr Tomcha said.
There are 50 per cent chances of a newborn baby becoming Thalassemia carrier if one of the parent is a carrier.
If both parents have the disorder, the baby has 50 per cent chances of becoming a carrier and 25 per cent chances of suffering from either major or intermedia cases.
Regular infusion of RBC will increase the iron level and it will affect the heart and liver as well as spleen.
In order to prevent iron overload, the patient needs to undergo Iron Chelation Therapy for which National Health Mission is playing major role in providing the required medications, he said, while stressing the need for regular and voluntary blood donation so that these patients get their regular blood supply.
He also appealed to the public not to worry about donating blood stating that there is no harmful effect in doing so.