"What are the Symptoms of Adult Thalassemia?"

Thalassemia

Thalassemia is a genetic disorder caused by deficiencies in globin genes, leading to the absence or insufficiency of one or more globin chains in hemoglobin. Depending on the severity of the condition, it can be classified into three types: severe, intermediate, and mild.

Symptoms

1. Severe: Patients begin to experience anemia, jaundice, and hepatosplenomegaly within 3-6 months after birth, with symptoms worsening over time.

2. Intermediate: Typically discovered in adulthood, manifested as chronic progressive hemolytic anemia accompanied by significant splenomegaly but without notable jaundice or dysplasia.

3. Mild: Most patients require no specific treatment throughout their lives and can maintain normal life only under blood transfusions.

Complications

1. Iron Overload: Resulting from long-term repeated blood transfusions, causing excess iron accumulation in the body. This primarily affects organs such as the liver and heart, manifesting as skin pigmentation, joint pain, muscle soreness, and other discomforts.

2. Gallstones: Caused by iron deposition in the biliary system, commonly presenting with upper abdominal dull pain, fever, chills, jaundice, and in severe cases, even acute obstructive suppurative cholangitis.

3. Secondary Infections: Due to reduced immune function from long-term repeated blood transfusions, patients are prone to various infections, commonly respiratory and intestinal infections. Complications may also include aplastic anemia and leukemia.

It is recommended to seek immediate medical attention upon the diagnosis of thalassemia and take corresponding treatment measures under the guidance of a physician. Regular rest, avoidance of fatigue, a balanced diet with adequate nutrient intake, and proper folate supplementation are also advised.