Did you know? 1 in 3 Thais are carriers of thalassemia, and importantly, they have no symptoms, which means they can pass the disease on to their children. Solve your doubts: Can you have children or donate blood?
Thalassemia is the most common genetic disease in Thailand. More than 12,000 newborn babies are diagnosed with thalassemia per year, while more than 22 million Thais are “thalassemia carriers” without knowing it. Every 1 in 3 people in the Thai population is a “thalassemia carrier” or popularly known as “latent thalassemia”. And because being a carrier is not a burden on life, does not show any abnormalities, and does not affect health, เว็บพนันออนไลน์ UFABET สมัครง่าย โปรโมชั่นมากมาย you may not be aware of it. But whenever you plan to have a child,
Being a thalassemia carrier is something that must be given importance because thalassemia is a disease caused by abnormal hemoglobin production, causing incomplete red blood cells. People with thalassemia are therefore more likely to have many and more severe health problems than the general population. Importantly, it cannot be cured and must be a lifelong condition.
How do you know if you are a thalassemia carrier?
Usually, being a thalassemia carrier does not cause any unusual symptoms. However, there are some warning signs that indicate you may have this condition, including:
- Red blood cells are found to be smaller than normal. Normal red blood cell size should have MCV value of 80-100. If the value is lower than this, you may be a thalassemia carrier.
- Mild anemia is detected. Simply put, the concentration of blood may be slightly lower than the standard value. It may cause fatigue or pale skin in some cases. It may not affect health until the abnormality is not known.
Thalassemia screening
- Preliminary screening ( Screening Test)
It is a blood test to check the completeness of the blood cells initially, look at the blood concentration value, and see if the size of the red blood cells is abnormal or not. It is a test method that is easy to interpret and fast, but it cannot distinguish which type of thalassemia carrier you are. If you are at risk, you should undergo the Hb Typing test to confirm the clear results.
- Hemoglobin typing
Hemoglobin testing will help determine if any hemoglobin is missing, as there are two main types of hemoglobin: alpha and beta. Thalassemia is also divided into two types, based on the type of hemoglobin the body cannot produce.
- DNA Analysis
It is a more specific test for thalassemia carriers and gives clearer results. It can be called the most accurate test method at present. And It can know the type, risk, and sometimes predict the severity of thalassemia that may occur. But it is also quite expensive.
Can thalassemia carriers have children?
In cases where only one father or mother is a thalassemia carrier, they can have children. The child has a 50% chance of being a thalassemia carrier and a 50% chance of not being a carrier. In cases where both father and mother are thalassemia carriers, they can also have children. However, there is a 25% chance that the child will receive the abnormal gene from both father and mother, have congenital thalassemia, a 50% chance of being a thalassemia carrier and a 25% chance of not being a carrier. However, you can consult a doctor to plan your pregnancy.
Can thalassemia carriers donate blood?
Information from the Thai Red Cross confirms that being a thalassemia carrier is not a contraindication to blood donation. You can donate blood as usual if your blood concentration reaches the standard criteria, which are:
- Women, not less than 12.5 grams/deciliter
- Men, not less than 13 grams/deciliter
It is recommended that after donating blood, you should get enough rest and finish taking all the blood tonics you received so that your blood count can return to normal.