Thalassemia history and symptoms
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Overview
History
Patients with thalassemia usually have a family history of thalassemia. The defective alpha- or beta-globin chain can be inherited from a patient's mother or father. In the case of severe thalassemia, symptoms begin early in life.
Symptoms
The most severe form of alpha thalassemia major causes stillbirth (death of the unborn baby during birth or the late stages of pregnancy).
Children born with thalessemia major (Cooley's anemia) are normal at birth, but develop severe anemia during the first year of life.
Other symptoms can include:
- Bone deformities in the face
- Fatigue
- Growth failure
- Shortness of breath
- Yellow skin (jaundice)
Persons with the minor form of alpha and beta thalassemia have small red blood cells but no symptoms.