I have been diagnosed with thalassaemia minor (carrier). What should I worry about?
People with beta thalassaemia trait will usually experience no health problems other than a mild anemia. You may have beta/alpha thalassaemia trait and not know it. Thalassaemia minor (carrier) is generally asymptomatic and usually does not present any significant symptoms. Please note that a disease is termed asymptomatic if a patient carries a disease or infection but experiences no symptoms. Our concern is that they be aware that they may pass down their thalassaemia gene to their children. If their partner also has thalassaemia minor, they then have a 25% (1 in 4) chance with each pregnancy of having a child with thalassaemia major. If people know that they have this 25% chance BEFORE they start a family, they can then discuss their family planning options with health professionals, such as Genetic Counsellors. The family planning options available to them may alter their chances of having a child affected by thalassaemia.
