Pediatric thalassemia, abbreviated as pediatric thalassemia, is also known as oceanic anemia. It is a genetic disease caused by a genetic defect in Hb globin, which leads to obstacles in the synthesis of the corresponding globin chain and changes in the composition of hemoglobin, ultimately resulting in anemia. So it is professionally referred to as "globin production disorder anemia". So what are the symptoms of a child with Mediterranean anemia? Let's take a brief look with me below.
1. Heavy duty
Within a few days of birth, anemia, progressive enlargement of the liver and spleen, jaundice, and developmental abnormalities may occur, and in severe cases, death may occur. If the condition is not controlled in a timely manner, some moderate patients may also develop into severe cases. Its special manifestations include: large head, widened eye distance, saddle nose, protruding forehead, and protruding cheeks. Its typical manifestation is a hip shaped head, and long bones can be fractured. Skeletal changes are caused by hyperfunction of bone marrow hematopoiesis, widening of the bone marrow cavity, and thinning of the cortex. Severe pediatric patients generally have a lower likelihood of surviving into adulthood.
2. Medium size
Moderate patients have no obvious symptoms at birth and behave normally like most newborns. However, after infancy, they may experience anemia, fatigue, edema, liver and spleen enlargement, and mild jaundice. As one grows older, facial changes such as widened eye distance and flattened nose bridge may occur, as well as respiratory infections. Moderate levels generally lead to adulthood and the ability to participate in labor. Sufficient attention should still be paid to diet, daily life, and labor to reduce the occurrence of complications.
3. Lightweight
Mild anemia or asymptomatic, this disease is easily overlooked and is often discovered during family investigations of severe patients.
According to genetic characteristics, if both parents are Mediterranean anemia patients, they will give birth to a child with Mediterranean anemia. Due to the lack of a cure for this disease, in order to minimize the incidence of the disease, if there is a positive medical history in the family, it is necessary to undergo prenatal and reproductive examinations. Try to avoid the occurrence of children with thalassemia as much as possible using modern medical methods.
