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 beta-thalassemia 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.