Many people know that thalassemia is a rare type of anemia, but its hazards are often unfamiliar to many and even easily overlooked. In fact, mild cases do not cause significant harm to the human body, while severe thalassemia poses a great danger to humans. So, what impact does pregnancy have on the fetus for expectant mothers with thalassemia?
Common Mediterranean anemia is divided into two types: alpha and beta, with beta thalassemia also classified into mild, moderate, and severe types: mild (carrying defective genes) generally only has mild anemia and does not require special treatment. Medium sized anemia belongs to moderate anemia. Severe thalassemia requires regular blood transfusions and iron excretion to sustain life. There is a high chance that the child will have Mediterranean anemia during pregnancy. If it is a mild Mediterranean pregnancy, there is no need to worry too much, as the child can generally be delivered smoothly. But if a child is born with severe Mediterranean anemia, the harm to the child is significant, and the child needs regular blood transfusions and iron excretion throughout their life to maintain their health. Therefore, expectant mothers should check and detect it as soon as possible in order to handle it promptly.
So, when should pregnant women undergo screening for thalassemia? Doctors suggest that screening at 12 weeks is better because it can increase the accuracy of screening during the early stages of child development. Although screening is a normal result, it is only a preliminary examination and cannot rule out the possibility of thalassemia, especially if the spouse has been diagnosed or suspected of thalassemia, it cannot be used as a basis for not having thalassemia. Comprehensive analysis should be conducted based on blood routine and spouse's condition. Therefore, expectant mothers should insist on undergoing prenatal and premarital examinations.
From this, it can be seen that thalassemia has a significant impact on the fetus, even lasting for a lifetime. So, for adults with thalassemia who want to have a baby, it's best to think twice and undergo relevant tests to determine if it's feasible. Even if you have a baby, it is important to undergo timely Mediterranean anemia screening and prenatal check ups to understand the condition of the fetus in a timely manner.
