Written By: Bhavyajyoti Chilukoti | Updated: May 12, 2017, 4:27 PM
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World Thalassemia day is observed on the 8th of May every year. It is a genetic disease in which the haemoglobin is not formed in the blood, leading to various symptoms. Dr VP Choudhry, Senior Consultant, Haematology, Fortis Healthcare shares common symptoms of thalassemia to spread awareness about the condition.
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Excessive tiredness and fatigue: If you suffer from thalassemia, you might look pale and listless due to lack of oxygen and iron. This is because, the defective red blood cells (RBCs) cannot absorb oxygen, leading to weakness, fatigue and excessive tiredness. Children born with Thalassemia Major usually develop the symptoms of severe anaemia within the first year of life.
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Delayed growth and development of the body: Thalassemia is a genetic condition and kids suffering from it lack the ability to produce normal, adult haemoglobin. And hence, this condition not only causes severe anaemia but also slows down the growth and development of the body including delayed puberty.
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Yellow or pale skin: Thalassemia also causes yellowing of the skin or whites of the eyes due to impaired liver function and enlargement of the liver. This is mainly because of the defective RBCs further affecting your overall function.
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Bone problems: People suffering from thalassemia may cause bone marrow to expand, where the blood cells are produced and developed. When bone marrow expands, the bones become wider than normal, causing the bones to become brittle and break easily.
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Dark urine: Another common symptom of thalassemia is dark colouration of the urine. It is a sign that the red blood cells (RBCs) are breaking down, which gives the urine a typical dark colour.
