Thalassaemia is one of the most difficult hereditary diseases to live with. Even though there is no cure, parents can prevent their child from being born with this terrible disease if they are careful.
However, preventing the spread of disease in the world has proven difficult due to the lack of proper awareness about the condition. This is why the World Health Organization established May 8th as World Thalassaemia Day.
Importance of World Thalassaemia Day
8th May is dedicated to past and present Thalassaemia patients in the world, who are surviving with the condition. It is also a day when the medical
organizations around the world come together to plan and raise awareness about the disease. Camps are set up in various cities and villages to educate people about the dangers of Thalassaemia and teach them about prevention measures of it. On World Thalassaemia Day, hospitals and clinics promote pre-marriage genetic testing that can help prevent hereditary conditions in the family. In India alone, 7,000-10,000 children are born with this disorder every year.
Aside from spreading awareness, there are other important reasons for celebrating World Thalassaemia Day. These include –
1. To motivate healthy people in the world to donate blood regularly in order to reduce the suffering of patients of Thalassaemia
2. Motivating doctors to take care of the special needs of such patients
3. Motivating people suffering from the disease to undergo treatment, as soon as they can, to reduce complications
4. To motivate the government of various countries around the world to build better health care facilities for people suffering from Thalassaemia
5. To reduce Thalassaemia related deaths around the globe
Causes and types of Thalassaemia
Thalassaemia is a hereditary condition, passed on from parents to their children. The condition results in improper and insufficient red blood cell and haemoglobin formation. This causes anaemia in the body.
There are two main types of Thalassemia –
1. Alpha-thalassemia- In this type, up to four genes are involved. Two genes are passed down to you from each parent. In case of a single mutated gene, you will not suffer from the condition, but you become a carrier. In the case of two mutated genes, the symptoms of the disease will be mild. In the case of three mutated genes, the symptoms will be severe. Most children with four mutated genes are stillborn, while a few may survive for a short period after birth.
2. Thalassaemia minor- Two genes determine whether an offspring will suffer from thalassaemia minor or not. If one of these two genes is mutated, the child will have mild symptoms of the disease. If both the genes are affected, the child will be healthy at birth but will develop severe thalassaemia within the first two years of life.
Symptoms
The symptoms of thalassemia vary depending on the type of thalassemia.
Symptoms will not show until the age of 6 months in most infants with beta thalassemia and some types of alpha thalassemia. This is because neonates have a different type of hemoglobin, called fetal hemoglobin.
After 6 months “normal” hemoglobin starts replacing the fetal type, and symptoms may begin to appear.
These include:
jaundice and pale skin
drowsiness and fatigue
chest pain
cold hands and feet
shortness of breath
leg cramps
rapid heart beat
poor feeding
delayed growth
headaches
dizziness and faintness
greater susceptibility to infections
Skeletal deformities may result as the body tries to produce more bone marrow.
If there is too much iron, the body will try to absorb more iron to compensate. Iron may also accumulate from blood transfusions. Excessive iron can harm the spleen, heart, and liver.
Patients with hemoglobin H are more likely to develop gallstones and an enlarged spleen.
Untreated, the complications of thalassemia can lead to organ failure.
Treatment for Thalassaemia
Treatment varies depending on the severity of the disease that affects you. For instance, people with mild Thalassaemia do not require frequent treatment. For these people, blood transfusion is necessary after surgery or childbirth.
On the other hand, people suffering from severe Thalassaemia rely on frequent blood transfusions. In a small number of cases, if you are able to find a proper donor, you can also take advantage of stem cell transplant to treat Thalassaemia. After such surgery, you no longer need blood transfusions for the rest of your life. Therefore, prevention and genetic testing before conceiving is the best way to combat Thalassaemia in the long run.
HOMOEOPATHIC APPROACH
Homeopathy addresses the root cause and offers medication which are help eventually reduce the need for frequent blood transfusion. Homeopathic medicines also help to improve immune status, which in turn also controls frequent attacks of respiratory infections. Role of homeopathic treatment is supplementary in case of Thalassemia.
The aim of homeopathy is not only to treat thalassemia symptoms but to address its underlying cause and individual susceptibility. As far as therapeutic medication is concerned, several remedies are available to cure thalassemia symptoms that can be selected on the basis of cause, sensations and modalities of the complaints. For individualized remedy selection and treatment, the patient should consult a qualified homeopathic doctor in person. There are following homeopathic remedies which are helpful in the treatment of thalassemia symptoms and increasing hemoglobin:
Carcinosin, Tuberculinum, Silicea, Chininum ars, Chininum sulph, Ferrum met, Natrum mur, Phosphorus, Radium brom, X-Ray and many other medicines.
