Just 1 Blood Test can prevent Thalassaemia in your Generation.

Thalassaemia Major patients require blood transfusions every 15 to 30 days throughout their lives. Save you next generation from this life-long burden just by 1 blood test.

Thalassaemia or Thalassaemia Major is an inherited disease and can be caused if both parents are Thalassaemia Carriers.

Thalassaemia carriers generally have no symptoms and they are healthy. Blood test is the only way to find out if some one is a Thalassaemia Carrier. Get yourself tested and save your generation from this deadly disease.

Thalassaemia Minor or Thalassaemia Carriers generally have no symptoms and they live a healthy life. Thalassaemia Minor itself is not a disease and does not require any medical treatment.

It is just a minor blood irregularity that could be present in people who may otherwise look healthy.

In fact, most of the people in third world countries do not even know that they have Thalassaemia traits unless they undergo a specific blood test. Blood test is the only way to find out if some one is a Thalassaemia Carrier.

The problem is that when two “Carrier” Parents (People with Thalassaemia Minor) are married to each other, their offspring may be born with the Thalassaemia Major disease which is quiet a costly and painful disease and unaffordable for many parents.

Point to note here is that it is an inherited genetic disease, i.e. it is passed from parents to children through the genes, and not through the blood.

It is NOT an infectious or contagious disease that can be passed on from one individual to another by personal or any other contact, through blood, food or air.

How to Prevent Thalassaemia Major?

The only ultimate prevention to eradicate Thalassaemia Major from the society is to avoid the marriage of Carrier couples to each other.

It is important to note here that Thalassaemia Major can NOT be caused if only 1 parent is a “Carrier” but only if both the parents are “Carriers”. Therefore, two such “Carriers” should not marry each other.

People with Thalassaemia Minor when married to normal people live a completely healthy and normal marital life. They do not cause any danger to the health of their partner nor do they transfer any traits or disease to them.

What are the odds of child being born with Thalassaemia Major?

If two “Carrier” parents are married to each other, their off springs are at a 25% risk of being born with Thalassaemia Major disease, 50% risk of being born with Thalassaemia Minor traits and 25% chance of being born normal i.e. without any Thalassaemia trait or disease.

Therefore, it is not only important for people planning to get married to test their blood to ensure that they are not “Carriers”, but it is equally important for married couples as well as for people who already have healthy children to get the test done, especially if they are expecting a child.

As mentioned above, there is a possibility that their existing children could be normal or carriers and their next child might be at risk of being born with Thalassaemia Major. If found to have carriers, such parents must undergo genetic counselling which is offered free of cost at KITCC.

Some facts about Thalassaemia

According to the recent survey there are about 5,000 to 6,000 children born with Thalassaemia Major every year in Pakistan and about 7-10% of Pakistan’s population has Thalassaemia Minor.

The percentage is relatively higher in communities like Memon, Pathan and Baluch where inter-cousin and inter-community marriages are common and the unfortunate part is that most of these people are unaware of their disorder or its consequences.

And the worst part is that even doctors and medical professionals in Pakistan do not have enough information and awareness on how to identify the suspected carriers and get their blood test done.

In developed countries, carriers are often identified when they undergo some particular blood tests or when they donate the blood. A simple CBC (Complete Blood Count) blood test may indicate if one has the Thalassaemia traits.

If so, then further testing (Hb Electrophoreses) is required but unfortunately due to lack of awareness in Pakistan, not all doctors may be able to tell from the CBC report.

So it is important that you ask your doctor to specifically check your blood for the Thalassaemia traits. CBC is an inexpensive test and can be done at almost all laboratories. It is also commonly advised to women during the pregnancy.

If you have the results of your CBC report, or to get more information, you may Contact us and find out if you could be the carrier. Both the tests are done free at KITCC.

Get yourself tested and not only help to eradicate Thalassaemia from the society but more importantly, save your next generations from this dreadful disease.