Wednesday, June 3, 2009

THALASSEMIA

It is a heterogeneous group of hereditary hemolytic anemias marked by decreased rate of synthesis of one or more hemoglobin polypeptide chains. Classified according to chain involved.

Causes


1) It is a common single gene disorder in the world. When both parents are carriers of Beta-thalassemia, there is 25% chance of offspring having thalassemia

Symptoms


1) Child usually is normal at birth and first few months of life, around 4-36 months of life anemia develops
2) Frequent infections give rise to fever, cough, diarrhea, vomiting and failure to thrive
3) Child due to lack of muscular development leads to thin stick like extremities
4) Abdomen is usually swollen
5) Big head, widely spaced eyes, flattened bridge of nose, upper teeth projecting forward, uncovered by upper lip
6) Most children die in the first decade of life due to severe anemia and cardiac failure

Investigations


1) Complete blood count
2) Bone marrow examination
3) Hb F level

Therapeutic consideration


1) Vit-B is recommended*
2) Calcium *
3) Fresh cow milk

Ayurveda approach


According to ayurveda, thalassemia comes under a category called sahaja or janmajata vyadhi. When it comes to sahaja vyadhi, ayurveda says it depends upon the severity of disease, organ affected, age of patient etc. Those factors make the disease manageable or hard to manage. But ayurvedic medicines have shown very promising results in some of the thalassemias, so they are definitely recommended to these patients.

Contact - Dr. Rahul Saraf at rahsaraf@gmail.com, +919422309088 to discuss your health problem or ayurvedic guidance on the same.


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Contact - Dr. Rahul Saraf at rahsaraf@gmail.com, +919850053462 to discuss your health problem or ayurvedic guidance on the same.