Beta thalassemia
Beta Thalassemia
Beta thalassemia (pronounced: BAY-tuh thal-uh-SEE-mee-uh) is a blood disorder that reduces the production of hemoglobin. Hemoglobin is the iron-containing protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen to cells throughout the body.
In people with beta thalassemia, low levels of hemoglobin lead to a lack of oxygen in many parts of the body. Affected individuals also have a shortage of red blood cells (anemia), which can cause pale skin, weakness, fatigue, and more serious complications.
Etymology
The term "thalassemia" is derived from the Greek words "thalassa" meaning "sea" and "haima" meaning "blood". This is because the condition was first discovered in populations living near the Mediterranean Sea.
Types of Beta Thalassemia
There are two main types of beta thalassemia, classified by the severity of symptoms: Beta Thalassemia Major and Beta Thalassemia Intermedia.
- Beta Thalassemia Major (also known as Cooley's Anemia) is the most severe form of beta thalassemia. It develops when beta-globin genes are missing. The symptoms of this condition are life-threatening, and they appear before a child's second birthday.
- Beta Thalassemia Intermedia is a less severe form of beta thalassemia. It develops when one or more beta-globin genes are altered.
Related Terms
- Hemoglobin: The protein molecule in red blood cells that carries oxygen from the lungs to the body's tissues and returns carbon dioxide from the tissues back to the lungs.
- Anemia: A condition in which you lack enough healthy red blood cells to carry adequate oxygen to your body's tissues.
- Alpha Thalassemia: A blood disorder where the body has a problem producing alpha globin, a component of hemoglobin.
- Iron Overload: A condition that occurs when too much iron builds up in the body over time.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Beta thalassemia
- Wikipedia's article - Beta thalassemia
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