Patient's question:
Baby was carefully checked at birth for thalassemia, but now at 1 month, I went to the nearby hospital for a thorough check-up. The results: mild β-type thalassemia. Is this serious? Does it need treatment? What should I pay attention to daily? Hello, how is β-type thalassemia classified as mild, moderate, or severe?Doctor's answer:
Thalassemia is a hemolytic anemia caused by a disruption in the production of hemoglobin in red blood cells. Anemia resulting from an increased production of the β chain of hemoglobin is called β-thalassemia. Depending on the severity of the condition, it is further classified into mild and severe types. Severe α-thalassemia patients are typically stillborn or die shortly after birth. The stillborn infants often exhibit generalized edema, an enlarged abdomen, and an especially large placenta, hence the alternative name "hydrops fetalis syndrome."