Carrying Beta Thalassaemia (Also known as having beta thalassaemia trait)
A blood test has shown that you carry beta thalassaemia. Here is a brief explanation.
A blood test has shown that you carry beta thalassaemia. Here is a brief explanation.
- A carrier of beta thalassaemia is a healthy person.
- Carrying beta thalassaemia will not weaken you physically or mentally.
- You can eat what you want and do any kind of work you choose.
- You do not need any medical treatment because you carry it.
What is beta thalassaemia?
Beta thalassaemia is one of a range of variations that can occur in Haemoglobin in the blood. Haemoglobin is a component of the blood. It is red, and causes the blood to be red. Haemoglobin is contained in red blood cells. Because you carry beta thalassaemia, you have smaller red blood cells and more of them than other people. Carrying beta thalassaemia is not an illness, and will never turn into an illness. You will never lose it, and no-one can “catch” it from you. You inherited beta thalassaemia from one of your parents, and could pass it on to your children. This is why you are called a “carrier” of beta thalassaemia. Beta thalassaemia is common among people who originate from Southern Europe, the Mediterranean area, the Middle East, India, and South East Asia. It also occurs among people originating from West Africa, and among African Caribbeans. It is found occasionally among North Europeans.
Can carrying beta thalassaemia cause you any health problem?
Some carriers may be mildly anaemic (have a lower haemoglobin level than usual). Some carrier women become anaemic when they are pregnant. The thalassaemia anaemia does not have any bad effect on health or length of life. There is nothing you can do about it. You should have a diet with enough iron and vitamins, to avoid getting anaemic for any other reason. A doctor who does not know you carry beta thalassaemia could think you are short of iron because you have small red cells, and could prescribe iron medicines. In the long run, this could do you more harm than good. Carriers of beta thalassaemia need a special blood test (serum iron or serum ferritin test) to diagnose iron deficiency. You should take iron medicines only if this test shows you are short of iron.
Why is it important to know you carry beta thalassaemia?
It could be important for the health of your children. Sometimes a carrier of beta thalassaemia has a child with a serious inherited anaemia. The risk is small, but it is important to know about it because you can avoid it. A person who carries beta thalassaemia can only have a child with an inherited anaemia if their partner is also a carrier of a haemoglobin variant or trait.
What should you do if you are thinking of having children?
Tell your partner that you carry beta thalassaemia, and ask him or her to have a blood test “for haemoglobinopathy”. Ideally your partner should have this test before you start a pregnancy. Their general practitioner (GP) can arrange it. If your partner is not a carrier of beta thalassaemia or a similar variation, there is no risk that your baby could have a serious inherited anaemia.
What should you do if your partner is also a carrier of a haemoglobin variant?
Arrange to talk to your GP. Ask for an immediate appointment to discuss your situation with a local specialist counsellor (see below for details). This is particularly important if you have already started a pregnancy. You can also contact the counseling service directly.
Is there anything else you should do?
If you already have children, or you have brothers or sisters, they may also carry beta thalassaemia. Encourage them to ask their GP for a blood test “for haemoglobin disorders”. You can ask the counselling service for more information about carrying beta thalassaemia.
Information on counselling services for haemoglobin disorders can be obtained from:
Cardiff Sickle Cell & Thalassaemia Centre
Butetown Health Centre
Beta thalassaemia is one of a range of variations that can occur in Haemoglobin in the blood. Haemoglobin is a component of the blood. It is red, and causes the blood to be red. Haemoglobin is contained in red blood cells. Because you carry beta thalassaemia, you have smaller red blood cells and more of them than other people. Carrying beta thalassaemia is not an illness, and will never turn into an illness. You will never lose it, and no-one can “catch” it from you. You inherited beta thalassaemia from one of your parents, and could pass it on to your children. This is why you are called a “carrier” of beta thalassaemia. Beta thalassaemia is common among people who originate from Southern Europe, the Mediterranean area, the Middle East, India, and South East Asia. It also occurs among people originating from West Africa, and among African Caribbeans. It is found occasionally among North Europeans.
Can carrying beta thalassaemia cause you any health problem?
Some carriers may be mildly anaemic (have a lower haemoglobin level than usual). Some carrier women become anaemic when they are pregnant. The thalassaemia anaemia does not have any bad effect on health or length of life. There is nothing you can do about it. You should have a diet with enough iron and vitamins, to avoid getting anaemic for any other reason. A doctor who does not know you carry beta thalassaemia could think you are short of iron because you have small red cells, and could prescribe iron medicines. In the long run, this could do you more harm than good. Carriers of beta thalassaemia need a special blood test (serum iron or serum ferritin test) to diagnose iron deficiency. You should take iron medicines only if this test shows you are short of iron.
Why is it important to know you carry beta thalassaemia?
It could be important for the health of your children. Sometimes a carrier of beta thalassaemia has a child with a serious inherited anaemia. The risk is small, but it is important to know about it because you can avoid it. A person who carries beta thalassaemia can only have a child with an inherited anaemia if their partner is also a carrier of a haemoglobin variant or trait.
What should you do if you are thinking of having children?
Tell your partner that you carry beta thalassaemia, and ask him or her to have a blood test “for haemoglobinopathy”. Ideally your partner should have this test before you start a pregnancy. Their general practitioner (GP) can arrange it. If your partner is not a carrier of beta thalassaemia or a similar variation, there is no risk that your baby could have a serious inherited anaemia.
What should you do if your partner is also a carrier of a haemoglobin variant?
Arrange to talk to your GP. Ask for an immediate appointment to discuss your situation with a local specialist counsellor (see below for details). This is particularly important if you have already started a pregnancy. You can also contact the counseling service directly.
Is there anything else you should do?
If you already have children, or you have brothers or sisters, they may also carry beta thalassaemia. Encourage them to ask their GP for a blood test “for haemoglobin disorders”. You can ask the counselling service for more information about carrying beta thalassaemia.
Information on counselling services for haemoglobin disorders can be obtained from:
Cardiff Sickle Cell & Thalassaemia Centre
Butetown Health Centre
Loudoun Square
Butetown
Cardiff
CF10 5UZ
Tel: 029 2047 1055
Butetown
Cardiff
CF10 5UZ
Tel: 029 2047 1055
