Will I need treatment if I have beta thalassaemia intermedia?
Many people with beta thalassaemia intermedia are healthy and their growth isn’t affected. You may be slightly anaemic, but often this doesn’t cause any problems. However, it’s quite likely that your spleen will be enlarged and blood will collect there. Your spleen is an organ that is part of your immune system, but you can survive without it. Therefore, it’s possible that your doctor may suggest surgery to remove it to increase the blood and haemoglobin that is available for the rest of the body. If you have beta thalassaemia intermedia, you will absorb more iron from your diet than someone without the condition. Too much iron in your body can be harmful so you may need to take medicines called iron chelators to stop it from building up. However, you are unlikely to have serious iron overload unless you are taking iron tablets (which most people should not) or receiving blood transfusions. You may need to have regular blood transfusions if you have severe anaemia or if your growth or
