"What Should I Do About Mild Thalassemia?"
Treatment of Mild Thalassemia
Mild thalassemia typically does not require specific treatment. When patients experience discomforting symptoms, appropriate therapeutic methods should be selected based on their individual conditions. The following are the main treatment options:
1. Regular Follow-ups:
Thalassemia is a genetic disorder that is relatively common in clinical practice. It arises primarily from a gene defect leading to reduced or complete absence of globin chain synthesis, resulting in a chronic hemolytic anemia. For individuals with mild thalassemia, the condition does not significantly impact their health, thus necessitating only regular hospital visits for related examinations rather than specialized interventions.
2. Medication:
If patients experience pronounced symptoms such as dizziness or paleness, they can alleviate their condition by taking folic acid tablets or vitamin B6 tablets under medical supervision. Additionally, iron supplements like ferrous sulfate granules or ferrous succinate syrup can be prescribed to improve blood levels.
3. Blood Transfusion Therapy:
For individuals with severe thalassemia, hematopoietic stem cell transplantation offers a potential cure but involves significant risks and high costs, necessitating careful consideration. Alternatively, splenectomy can serve as an adjuvant treatment, albeit with the risks of post-operative infection, bleeding, and potentially excessive blood loss.
Lifestyle Recommendations:
It is advised to maintain a healthy lifestyle by ensuring adequate rest, avoiding overexertion and late nights. A diet rich in light, easily digestible foods, fresh fruits, and vegetables, with limited spicy, greasy, or stimulating foods, is recommended to prevent exacerbating symptoms.