5/17/2023 0 Comments Thalassemia minor![]() ![]() After surgery, you'll be more likely to catch infections. Your spleen helps your immune system get rid of bacteria and other germs that could make you sick. Doctors avoid this surgery in children under age 5 because kids are at higher risk for a very serious blood infection called sepsis. Your doctor will weigh the decision to remove your spleen carefully. It can improve some symptoms of beta thalassemia, but it has risks. The main treatment for an enlarged spleen is surgery to remove the spleen, called a splenectomy. An enlarged spleen can cause your hemoglobin levels to drop even lower, plus lower the number of blood cells called platelets that help your blood clot. In beta thalassemia, too much iron and too many abnormal red blood cells can collect in that organ and make it swell. These drugs bind to iron in your body, which then leaves your body when you pee or have a bowel movement. You'll get a pill or shot of a medicine like deferasirox (Exjade, Jadenu), deferiprone (Ferriprox), or deferoxamine (Desferal). All that extra iron can damage organs like your heart and liver.Ĭhelation therapy is a treatment that removes the additional iron from your body. Beta thalassemia also makes your body absorb extra iron from food. After you have many transfusions, iron can build up in your body. The blood cells you get during a transfusion have a lot of iron. For extra protection, your child will need to get the full three doses of hepatitis B vaccines before they can have a blood transfusion. Technicians carefully test the blood used in transfusions to prevent you from getting hepatitis or other diseases. The process takes 1 to 4 hours at your doctor's office or a clinic. Some people with this type of beta thalassemia need transfusions only at certain times, such as when they have an illness or infection.ĭuring a transfusion, a nurse gives you blood from a donor by placing a small plastic tube into one of your veins. ![]() If you have beta thalassemia major, you'll need blood transfusions every 2 to 4 weeks to raise the number of your red blood cells. A team of doctors, nurses, physical therapists, and other health care professionals will tailor treatment to you or your child. These doctors work at hospitals and beta thalassemia treatment centers. Social workers and mental health professionals can help if you find yourself stressed or anxious.ĭoctors who specialize in blood diseases, called hematologists, treat beta thalassemia. If your child has beta thalassemia major or intermedia, make sure to reach out to family and friends for the emotional backing you need. Treatment involves regular blood transfusions. It often starts by age 2 and causes severe anemia and other serious symptoms. ![]() Transfusion-dependent Beta thalassemia major is the most severe type. Some people will need blood transfusions to boost their red blood cell count. Non-transfusion-dependent beta thalassemia intermedia causes more serious anemia. In certain situations, adults may need a blood transfusion, like after they have surgery or give birth. Folic acid is a B vitamin that raises the number of red blood cells that your body makes. If you have mild anemia, folic acid supplements can help. You or your child may not need treatment. There are three types of beta thalassemia, and each has a different treatment.īeta thalassemia minor ( beta thalassemia trait) is the mildest form. Without enough oxygen, you'll feel tired and weak. Too few red blood cells is called anemia. Treatment by Typeīeta thalassemia affects your body's ability to make hemoglobin, a protein that helps your red blood cells carry oxygen to all your organs. For severe beta thalassemia, you or your child may need to get blood transfusions, a treatment called chelation therapy that removes excess iron from your body, or surgery. If the condition is mild, you may not need to do anything. Your doctor will figure out the right plan based on the type of disease you have and how severe the symptoms are. If you or your child has a blood disorder called beta thalassemia, the goal of treatment is to boost the number of healthy red blood cells in the body. ![]()
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