Where is thalassemia most common?

Traits for thalassemia are more common in people from Mediterranean countries, like Greece and Turkey, and in people from Asia, Africa, and the Middle East. If you have anemia and you also have family members from these areas, your doctor might test your blood further to find out if you have thalassemia.

How common is thalassemia in the USA?

Affected Populations Beta thalassemia is relatively rare in the United States, but is one of the most common autosomal recessive disorders in the world. The incidence of symptomatic cases is estimated to be approximately 1 in 100,000 individuals in the general population.

What race is most affected by thalassemia?

Certain ancestry. Thalassemia occurs most often in African Americans and in people of Mediterranean and Southeast Asian descent.

What is the average lifespan of someone with thalassemia?

“Most thalassaemia patients would live up to the age of 25 to 30 years. Improved facilities will help them live up to the age of 60,” said Dr Mamata Manglani, head of pediatrics, Sion hospital.

Is thalassemia linked to leukemia?

The coexistence of thalassemia with cancers such as Hodgkin disease, lymphoma, seminoma, and leukemia has been reported [3,4,5,6,7]. This coexistence could be explained by either genetic or environmental interactions, or it might be thought of as just a coincidence.

Where is alpha thalassemia most common?

Alpha thalassemia is a fairly common blood disorder worldwide. Thousands of infants with Hb Bart syndrome and HbH disease are born each year, particularly in Southeast Asia. Alpha thalassemia also occurs frequently in people from Mediterranean countries, Africa, the Middle East, India, and Central Asia.

Can you drink alcohol if you have thalassemia?

Patients with thalassaemia should be discouraged from consuming alcohol, as it can facilitate the oxidative damage of iron and aggravates the effect of HBV and HCV on liver tissue.

Can a person with thalassemia minor donate blood?

If you have G6PD (Glucose-6-Phosphate Dehydrogenase Deficiency) or Thalassemia (minor), you can donate blood if you meet the haemoglobin requirement.