Thalassemia is a group of blood disorders that is genetically passed on and is very common in Southeast Asian countries. There are many, many different kinds of Thalassemia and it can be overwhelming to learn about them all if your child is diagnosed with some form of the disorder. During you first medical exam after you come home with your newly adopted child, your doctor will perform a battery of blood tests. It is upon receipt of the results of these tests that is when most Thalassemia diagnoses will be given.

It is important that you have a pediatrician who is familiar with Asian children and the illnesses, disorders and diseases that are prevalent in Vietnamese people. A doctor unfamiliar with Thalassemia may diagnose your child as anemic and prescribe iron supplements, when they really should have done further testing as extra iron to a person with Thallassemia can be toxic. A hematologist can be consulted for even further information if your child does receive such a diagnosis.

There are four types of alpha Thalassemia and three types of beta Thalassemia, each ranging from mild to moderate to severe. In a Thalassemia positive person, the body has difficulty producing hemoglobin (protein in red blood cells.) Oxygen is not carried sufficiently to the rest of the body and the result is often anemia. People who are silent carriers, or who are diagnosed with the minor strain of Thalassemia will live mostly normal, healthy lives. They will need to be careful not to consume extra iron (for example, in a multivitamin for women,) but shouldn’t have any significant problems. Those who have the intermedia or major traits will require blood transfusions and chelation therapy among other methods.

The most important thing to know about Thalassemia before your child comes home is to be vigilant in choosing a physician who will thoroughly test your new child. If your doctor has a large Asian patient base, they will likely be familiar with Thallasemia and more likely to properly diagnose it. Your adoption agency may also be able to provide you with further resources about the disorder.


More Reading:
Thalassemia Support Foundation
Ask the Physician: Thalassemia
Thalassemia