How can haemoglobin disorders be reduced?
Haemoglobin disorders can be effectively reduced through a strategic balance of disease management and prevention programmes. Sickle-cell disease can be managed by simple procedures including: • high fluid intake • healthy diet • folic acid supplementation • pain medication • vaccination and antibiotics for the prevention and treatment of infections • a number of other therapeutic measures. Thalassaemia major requires regular blood transfusions to maintain an adequate supply of haemoglobin and sustain life. As a result of multiple transfusions, organs become severely overloaded with iron and a specific treatment is needed to manage this condition. Thalassaemias can be cured by a successful bone-marrow transplant, however this procedure is expensive and not readily available in most settings. Recently, gene therapy has been successfully applied to a patient with thalassaemia. The most cost-effective strategy for reducing the burden of haemoglobin disorders is to complement disease manag
