How did beta thalassemia get its name?
As you probably know, Thalassaemia is an inherited blood disorder. The incidence of Thalassaemia carriers varies greatly from country to country throughout the world. It’s very common in the Middle East, the Indian sub-continent and through out South East Asia, in a region including Southern China, Thailand, Malaysia and parts of the southern Mediterranean. These regions coincide with areas where malaria occurs. Thalassaemia trait is believed to offer some resistance to malaria. Thalassaemia is common in those parts of the world where malaria is endemic. Blood is made up of plasma (fluid), red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets. The white cells protect your body against and fight infection and the platelets are responsible for normal blood clotting. The red blood cells carry red blood protein called haemoglobin. Haemoglobin contains iron and transports oxygen from your lungs around the body. Anaemia is caused by reduced haemoglobin. If the anaemia is mild it does no harm and
