The Disease. Thalassaemia is an inherited
blood disease transmitted by a gene. Thalassaemia major
is a severe form of anemia. Those Thalassaemia major
require regular blood tranfusion, about once a month,
throughout their lives. In Sabah, they seldom live beyond
their teens.
At present, there is no
cure except through bone marrow transplant. Thalassaemia
major is transmitted by two Thalassaemia genes, one from
the father one from the mother. A person who has one
thalassaemia gene is said to have the Thalassaemia trait.
He/she remains well and will not develop anemia, but can
pass on the gene to his/her children.
If both parents have
the Thalassaemia trait, the following can occur:
- Chance of having a
child Thalassaemia Major is 25% (of each
pregnancy)
- Chance of having a
child with Thalassaemia trait is 50%
- Chance of having a
normal child is 25%
If one parents has
Thalassaemia trait the following can occur:
- Chance of having a
child with Thalassaemia trait is 50%
- Chance of having
normal child is 50%
- None of their
children will get Thalassaemia major.
A simple blood test can
determine whether you have Thalassaemia trait.
Thalassaemia cases in Sabah are much higher in Sabah than
other states in Malaysia.
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