How Do You Inherit Thalassemia?

Every year approx, 100,000 babies are born already affected with thalassemia across the world. The disease is passed to them from their parents. However, the health condition is more common in these countries: Italy, Greece, Middle East, South Asia, and Africa. Does that mean, people born in these regions have more chances to get thalassemia?

Let dig that!

Thalassemia is group of diseases related to the quality of blood produced in the human body. Technically, it is the deficiency of red blood cells (RBCs) or inadequate hemoglobin level in the system. Since the responsibility of supplying oxygen through the body is of RBCs or hemoglobin, which eventually causes acute anemia.

There are two types of thalassemia known to the medical science. These are Alpha and Beta. And both types of thalassemia occur the same way. Thalassemia is inherited from the mutated thalassemia gene found in one of the parents to the child. The child who becomes heir to one mutated gene is called a “carrier”. In the definition of medical science, the carrier is termed as the “Thalassemia Trait”. A trait, however, leads a very normal, active and healthy lifestyle.

The advancements in medical science have allowed us to understand the step-by-step occurring of thalassemia in the human body. In a child’s body, four genes – two genes from both the parents – are responsible for the development of alpha globins. Alpha Thalassemia happens when more than two alpha thalassemia genes (alpha globins) are missing from the blood composition. Missing just two genes isn’t actually a serious problem. But missing more than two can be deadly.

in the happening of Thalassemia-α. Two genes from either parent make those four genes responsible for inheritance of Alpha Thalassemia.

Patients of Alpha Thalassemia are the people, who have:

Only one gene affected: Such patients are "silent carriers". They do not have any sign of thalassemia or any other related condition.

Two genes affected: They are called “alpha thalassemia trait” or “alpha thalassemia minor”. They have show symptom of mild anemia and are thalassemia carriers.

Three genes affected: They suffer from moderate to severe anemia and Hemoglobin H Disease.

Four genes affected: These thalassemia patients (children) are in a very critical condition. Usually, babies who have their four genes affected die before they are born. However, some medical specialty centers have saved the lives of some such patients.