The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Hyderabad News : ‘Test to avoid thalassemia’

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Friday, Jul 11, 2008
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

‘Test to avoid thalassemia’

HYDERABAD: Thalassemia, a genetic disorder in which the body is unable to make adequate haemoglobin needed to produce red blood cells (RBC), can be avoided among children by taking a medical test before marriage to find whether you are a thalassemic minor or a carrier.

This suggestion comes from the parents of thalassemic children. “If two thalassemic carriers get married, their children will be thalassemic. That’s why, as parents who are undergoing the ordeal, we suggest the bride and groom to undergo tests before getting married,” says co-ordinator for thalassemia and Sickle Cell Society (TSCS) K. Ratnavali.

The members of the Society, who interacted with media persons on Thursday to announce the Society’s decennial celebrations on Sunday at Ravindra Bharati, said that awareness among parents is vital to fight this ailment.

Blood transfusion

“Blood transfusion has to be given to such kids every three weeks. Imagine the trauma faced by parents and children,” says Dr. Suman Jain, TSCS secretary. Estimates suggest that in India there are over 35 million thalassemia carriers and about 10,000 to 12,000 thalassemic children are born every year in the country, TSCS members informed.

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