Common myths about Thalassemia Thalassemia is a hereditary blood disorder caused by a defect in a gene in which the body produces an abnormal form of hemoglobin, which in turn causes anemia. Thalassemia is hereditary, which means that at least one of your parents must have the disease. It is caused by a genetic mutation or the elimination of certain key gene fragments.
Myth
Myth
I do not have to tell other relatives that I am a carrier
My son is just a carrier, so we do not need to talk about it
Myth
Only women need a screening
Myth
Thalassemia can be trapped in an infected blood
Myth
Myth
Myth
Thalassemia should be treated with iron supplements
If a baby is a carrier, it will get sick later in life
Regular blood tests can show that they are the carriers.
Myth
If only one parent carries thalassemia, genetic inheritance cannot be transmitted.
Myth
If parents are not ill, the children will not inherit the thalassemia.
If you have the defective gene or the defective genes, there is a possibility that other “blood relatives� will do it too.
When the time comes, parents should be open about the status of the provider so that their children can make informed decisions when planning a family.
Fact
Fact
Both genders need to be evaluated because a combination of genes is inherited from a child.
Sickle cells and thalassemia are not infectious, they are only hereditary.
Iron supplements can aggravate thalassemia and iron overload is a risk and hard to treat.
Fact
Fact
Fact
If a baby is a carrier and doesn’t show any symptoms then they can never develop the Fact disorder in later stage, but they can still transmit defective genes if they have children later.
Only certain blood tests can detect the state of the wearer.
Fact
The child can not inherit the disorder itself; They could still inherit the Fact status of the operator who could affect their children and subsequent generations.
Although couples with thalassemia may not have any symptoms, a Fact child could transmit the defective genes.
Read more about Causes, symptoms and treatments about Thalassemia