Question
How do experts assess the severity of thalassemia? Do children with long-term symptoms of this condition need to go to the hospital for treatment? How long does the treatment usually take to show effects?
Answer
Thalassemia is a genetic disorder, primarily divided into two types: α-thalassemia and β-thalassemia, which can further be categorized into four levels: very mild, mild, intermediate, and severe. Thalassemia is definitely inherited from parents and cannot be transmitted through any means. Patients with very mild thalassemia typically do not have symptoms of anemia and are therefore also known as carriers of the thalassemia gene; those with mild thalassemia only have mild anemia, which is often discovered during a physical examination, and most of these patients are unaware that they carry this genetic trait. It is recommended to undergo detailed examinations to determine if the condition is present.