Alpha plus Thalassaemia

This is very common in some ethnic groups. There are no symptoms and it usually goes unnoticed. There may be slight iron deficiency (anaemia) if the blood is tested for some reason. Sometimes people may be mistakenly diagnosed as having iron deficiency anaemia and be treated with iron medications unnecessarily.

Alpha Zero Thalassaemia

There are no symptoms and you are perfectly healthy. However, if both parents have alpha zero thalassaemia they have a 1 in 4 chance of having a baby who has alpha zero thalassaemia major which is incompatible with life; the baby is often born prematurely and is dead or dies shortly after birth.

Beta Thalassaemia Trait (Carrier)

There are usually no symptoms and you are perfectly healthy, however there are an increased number of cells and they are smaller than those without the condition. It can cause mild anaemia because slightly less haemoglobin is produced than normal. This usually does not usually cause you any symptoms and cannot be treated by increased iron intake.

Beta Thalassaemia Major

Between birth and three to six months, your baby with Beta Thalassaemia Major will seem normal and quite healthy. Your baby will then begin to show symptoms of anaemia (they become pale) there may be shortness of breath, jaundice and an enlarged spleen. Without treatment, your child's bones will grow abnormally and death will occur early in childhood. Also if the condition is poorly treated or between transfusions your child will be pale, lethargic and breathless. There may be yellowing (jaundice) of the eyes and skin due to excessive breakdown of red blood cells. Also with poor treatment growth may be delayed, there may be osteoporosis of the bones and the spleen may be damaged.