What is the difference between alpha and beta thalassemia?

What is the difference between alpha and beta thalassemia?

When thalassemia is called “alpha” or “beta,” this refers to the part of hemoglobin that isn’t being made. If either the alpha or beta part is not made, there aren’t enough building blocks to make normal amounts of hemoglobin. Low alpha is called alpha thalassemia. Low beta is called beta thalassemia.

How is alpha and beta thalassemia diagnosed?

Studies of iron will indicate whether the cause of the anemia is iron deficiency or thalassemia (iron deficiency is not the cause of anemia in people with thalassemias). Hemoglobin electrophoresis is used to diagnose beta thalassemia. Genetic testing is used to make a diagnosis of alpha thalassemia.

What are the symptoms of beta thalassemia?

What Are the Signs & Symptoms of Beta Thalassemia?

• tiredness.
• shortness of breath.
• a fast heartbeat.
• pale skin.
• yellow skin and eyes (jaundice)
• moodiness.
• slow growth.

How do I know if I have alpha thalassemia?

Children with alpha thalassemia major may have a swollen abdomen or symptoms of anemia or failure to thrive. If the doctor suspects alpha thalassemia, he or she will take a blood sample for testing. Blood tests can reveal red blood cells that are pale, varied in shape and size, or smaller than normal.

Which type of thalassemia is worse?

Beta thalassemia major (Cooley’s anemia). There are two damaged genes. This is the most severe form of this disorder. People with this condition will need frequent blood transfusions. They may not live a normal lifespan.

Does thalassemia minor affect periods?

Puberty may be delayed or progress abnormally in teenagers with thalassemia, due to iron build up impairing the function of the pituitary gland. This may lead to complications such as: Absence of menstruation, known as amenorrhea.

Is thalassemia minor serious?

Thalassemia minor is a less serious form of the disorder. There are two main forms of thalassemia that are more serious. In alpha thalassemia, at least one of the alpha globin genes has a mutation or abnormality. In beta thalassemia, the beta globin genes are affected.

At what age is thalassemia detected?

Most children with moderate to severe thalassemia receive a diagnosis by the time they are 2 years old. People with no symptoms may not realize that they are carriers until they have a child with thalassemia. Blood tests can detect if a person is a carrier or if they have thalassemia.

Who is at risk for beta thalassemia?

Who is at risk for beta thalassemia? Beta thalassemia is a genetic disease inherited from one or both parents. The only risk factor is having a family history of the disease.

Is alpha thalassemia bad?

However, health problems caused by alpha thalassemia and its treatment are common and can be serious. Severe thalassemia (severe hemoglobin H or hydrops fetalis) can cause heart failure and death.

What happens if one parent has alpha thalassemia?

When only one parent has alpha thalassemia trait and the other does not, there is no chance of having a baby with the most severe form of alpha thalassemia. However, each child has a 50% (or 1 in 2) chance to inherit the trait from the parent.

Is alpha thalassemia life threatening?

Missing three alpha thalassemia genes (Hemoglobin H disease): (α-/–), this disease causes health problems and requires treatment by a physician. Missing four genes (Hydrops fetalis): (–/–), this is a life threatening disease.

What is the life expectancy of someone with thalassemia?

Beta thalassemia intermedia also have a normal life span with proper treatment and management of beta thalassemia. The average life expectancy of a person with beta thalassemia major is about 17 years, most of the time by the age of 30 they die due to iron overload causing cardiac complications.

What are the chances of getting thalassemia?

A child of two carriers has a 25 percent chance of receiving two trait genes and developing the disease, and a 50 percent chance of being a thalassemia trait carrier. Most individuals with alpha thalassemia have milder forms of the disease, with varying degrees of anemia.

How to test for beta thalassemia?

Several laboratory tests may be used to help detect and diagnose thalassemia: Complete blood count (CBC). The CBC is an evaluation of the cells in the blood. Among other things, the CBC determines the number of red blood cells present and how much hemoglobin is in them.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oH6SMG3Ykjg