Who Is At Risk of Alpha Thalassemia?
Alpha thalassemia is inherited. This means it is passed from parent to child through genes. There are 4 genes for alpha globin. If any one of these genes is abnormal, the amount of hemoglobin in the body is affected. Alpha thalassemia is broken down into types. The number of problem genes determines the type. The four main types are: • Silent carrier state. This type occurs when there is only one abnormal gene. It is unlikely to cause health problems. • Alpha thalassemia trait. This type occurs when there are two abnormal genes. It may affect the size of the RBCs and cause mild anemia. • Hemoglobin H disease. This type occurs when there are three abnormal genes. It is more likely to affect the RBCs and cause moderate to severe anemia. It can also lead to other problems in the body. • Alpha thalassemia major. This type occurs when there are four abnormal genes. It is very rare. A child with this condition is not likely to survive. Variations of these types can also occur. Your child’s h