What is Thalassemia?

It is a hereditary blood condition that affects the body’s ability to produce hemoglobin and red blood cells, which are responsible for carrying oxygen to the body, which can cause mild to severe anemia.

Thalassemia is caused by a genetic defect that prevents the normal development of one of the hemoglobin chains (alpha or beta). Therefore, the two types of thalassemia are named after both:

Alpha: formed by two genes located on chromosome 16.
Beta: designed by a single gene located on chromosome 11.

In both types, when the thalassemia is mild, there may be no need for treatment, but if it is severe, frequent blood transfusions may be necessary.

Signs and symptoms Thalassemia

Symptoms will depend on the type of thalassemia and its severity, but the most common signs are:

Lack of energy.
Abnormalities in the bones of the face and skull.
Tiredness.
Abdominal swelling.
Dark colored urine.
Paleness.

Potential risks:

Spleen swelling.
Delayed growth.
Bone deformities, mainly in the face and skull, as well as frequent fractures due to the bones becoming weak and brittle.
Recurring infections.
Heart failure.
Arrhythmia.
Excess iron from treatments that can affect the heart, liver, and endocrine system.
Death.

Diagnosis and treatment Thalassemia

Once the doctor analyzes the symptoms and clinical history, they will perform a physical examination and request blood tests to determine the number of red blood cells (color, shape, and size) and analyze the DNA in search of mutated genes.

If one of the parents has thalassemia, prenatal tests can be done to confirm the diagnosis and determine the severity of the thalassemia through:

Amniocentesis.
Chorionic villus biopsy.

The treatment to follow will depend on the type of thalassemia you suffer from. In moderate to severe cases, the following may be required:

Regular blood transfusions that over time can lead to an iron buildup in the blood that can have heart and liver consequences, among others.
Chelation therapy to remove excess iron from the blood, which may be supplemented by oral or intravenous medications.
Spinal cord and bone marrow transplant from a compatible donor to eradicate continuous blood transfusions and the intake of drugs to control iron overload.
Removal of the spleen due to damage caused by blood transfusions.
Surgery to correct skeletal system problems.

At the Pediatric Center we provide specialized care to small patients from the moment of birth until they become adults, through our pediatric care, oncology, neurology, and cardiology services at the level of the best medical centers in the world.

Related centers and departments

Pediatrics Center
Internal medicine
High Specialty Surgery Center
Radiology and Molecular Imaging
Clinical Laboratory
Cancer Center

Fuentes:

kidshealth.org
cigna.com
medlineplus.gov
mayoclinic.org
msdmanuals.com
medigraphic.com
Quero HA, Zárate AR, Quero EA, et al. Síndrome de bilis espesa en un neonato con Síndrome de Beta- Talasemia Menor. Reporte de caso y revisión de la literatura. Bol Clin Hosp Infant Edo Son. 2019;36(1):35-42.
Angulo UG, Koss HR, Monge OJM. Generalidades y tratamientos emergentes en la Beta-talasemia. Revista Médica Sinergia. 2020;5(12):1-15.
Lugones BM, Hernández ÁF. Beta talasemia y embarazo. Revista Cubana de Obstetricia y Ginecología. 2017;43(2):1-9.
Ruiz-Reyes G, Ruiz-Argüelles GJ, Guzmán O, et al. Nosographic performance of the red cell distribution width (RDW) for the diagnosis of thalassemia. Rev Hematol Mex. 2010;11(3):141-145.

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The dissemination of the content of this material is for informational purposes only and does not replace, under any circumstance or condition, a consultation with a specialist doctor, for which the ABC Medical Center is not responsible for the different use that may be given to it. If you require more information related to the subject, we suggest you contact the specialist doctor you trust directly.

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Comparison of COVID-19 vaccines

Pfizer-
BioNTech

Pfizer-BioNTech

What is its effectiveness and what does it refer to?

Vaccine type: mRNA
Effectiveness: 95% after the second dose in the prevention of symptomatic COVID-19.

No Does not contain egg, latex, or preservatives.

How many doses are needed?
Two doses are needed, at least 21 days apart (or up to six weeks apart, if necessary).

Who should or shouldn’t get the vaccine?
People who should receive the vaccine are those over 16 years old.
People who should not receive the vaccine are those who have a history of anaphylactic shock (severe allergy) or who are allergic to any component of this vaccine such as polyethylene glycol (PEG) or polysorbate.

What are the possible side effects of the vaccine?
Pain where the injection was given, fatigue, headache, muscle pain, chills, joint pain, fever, nausea, malaise, and swollen lymph nodes.

How long will it take for me to be protected and what does it protect me from?
After 14 days of having the complete scheme (after the administration of the 2nd dose), the protection period is still under study. It protects us from serious COVID-19 or requiring hospitalization.

Moderna

What is its effectiveness and what does it refer to?

Vaccine type: mRNA
Effectiveness: 94.5% after the second dose in the prevention of symptomatic COVID-19.

Does not contain egg, latex, or preservatives.

How many doses are needed?
Two doses are needed, at least 28 days apart (or up to six weeks apart, if necessary).

Who should or shouldn’t get the vaccine?
People who should receive the vaccine are those over 18 years old.
People who should not receive the vaccine are those who have a history of anaphylactic shock (severe allergy) or who are allergic to any component of this vaccine.

What are the possible side effects of the vaccine?
Pain where the injection was given, fatigue, headache, muscle pain, chills, joint pain, fever, nausea, and swollen lymph nodes in the arm in which you received the injection.

Janssen/
Johnson
& Johnson

Janssen/ Johnson & Johnson

What is its effectiveness and what does it refer to?

Vector-based vaccine.
Effectiveness: 72.0% in the prevention of symptomatic COVID-19.
85% in the prevention of severe COVID-19.

Does not contain egg, latex, or preservatives./strong>

How many doses are needed?
Only one dose in needed.

What are the possible side effects of the vaccine?
Pain where the injection was given, headache, fatigue, muscle pain, chills, fever, and nausea.

How long will it take for me to be protected and what does it protect me from?
After 28 days of having the complete scheme (the last dose applied), the protection period is still under study. It protects us from 85% serious COVID-19 or requiring hospitalization.

AstraZeneca
and
Oxford
University

AstraZeneca and Oxford University

What is its effectiveness and what does it refer to?

Adenovirus vector-based vaccine.
Effectiveness: 82% after the second dose in the prevention of symptomatic COVID-19.

How many doses are needed?
Two doses are needed, at least 56 days apart (or up to 84 days apart, if necessary).

What are the possible side effects of the vaccine?
Pain where the injection was given, fatigue, headache, myalgia, arthralgia, and fever, which were mild to moderate in intensity and disappeared within 48 hours of vaccination.

Sputnik V

What is its effectiveness and what does it refer to?

Adenovirus vector-based vaccine.
Effectiveness: 92% after the second dose in the prevention of symptomatic COVID-19.

How many doses are needed?
Two doses are needed, at least 21 days apart (or up to six weeks apart, if necessary).

What is Thalassemia?

Signs and symptoms Thalassemia

Diagnosis and treatment Thalassemia

Related centers and departments

Fuentes:

Index

Specialist in Thalassemia