What is Mediterranean anemia?
Mediterranean anemia, also called thalassemia, is a blood disorder inherited from defective genes in one or both parents. These involvement have less hemoglobin and less red blood cells than usual. Hemoglobin is a protein that allows red blood cells to transfer oxygen all over the body and transmitted by carbon dioxide to the lungs to exhale. If the body does not have enough oxygen supplied to its organs and tissues, it causes fatigue.
The most common symptoms of Mediterranean anemia are fatigue and weakness due to lack of oxygen distributed throughout the body. The suffering of the disorder can also experience shortness of breath, unusual paleness or yellowing of the skin called jaundice. Symptoms range from mild to severe and can be present at birth. Some patients do not experience any symptoms at all, while others do not have to show signs of disorders later in life.Ms from disease or frequent blood transfusions. Infections are also common due to blood transfusions and can be serious as in hepatitis. HardlyCases can cause bone deformities, enlarged spleen, slowed speed of growth and heart problems, including congestive heart failure and abnormal heart rhythm.
Blood tests for measuring the amount of iron in the blood, the amount of red blood cells and the distribution of hemoglobin are performed to diagnose Mediterranean anemia in children. Prenatal testing can also be done if parents carry defective genes responsible for the failure. Methods of prenatal testing include sampling of chorionic villi in the placenta in approximately 11 weeks, amniocentesis of fetal fluid after 16 weeks and sampling of the fetus after 18 weeks.
Treatment of mild cases is usually minimal, although patients may need to regularly transform blood transfusions. Blood transfusions are running after surgery, infection and childbirth. Individuals with heavy Mediterranean anemia often need more frequent blood transfusions. Iron can be after nSecular transfusions quickly accumulate in the bloodstream, so iron chelators are often administered to help the body destroy excess iron. In rare serious cases, bone marrow or stem cell transplantation may be granted if suitable donors can be found, but these procedures are risky, so they are reserved as the last option.
Most of the symptoms of Mediterranean anemia can be managed by compliance with several basic health instructions and lifestyle changes. Patients should avoid excess iron and eat nutritional diet with a high content of folic acid, calcium, zinc and vitamin D to help produce new red blood cells and maintain healthy bones. Since the risk of infection is high, it is essential that patients receive annual influenza vaccination and maintain themselves on other vaccines.