Thalassemia is an inherited blood disorder that causes the body to produce less hemoglobin. Hemoglobin is the protein in red blood cells that helps to carry oxygen from the lungs to all parts of the body. Some infants show signs of thalassemia at birth, while other children develop them over the first two years of life.
The treatment recommended for your child will depend on how severe the disorder is. For many children with mild forms of thalassemia, no treatment is needed. For moderate to severe thalassemia, treatments might include:
Blood transfusions from healthy donors to help get rid of anemia
Iron chelation therapy to remove excess iron from the body and prevent iron overload
Fighting pediatric cancer and blood disorders
Our UW Health Kids | Carbone Cancer Center specialists offer the most advanced treatment options. Our pediatric cancer and blood disorder experts are national research leaders. We test new therapies and continue to work on therapies for pediatric cancer and blood disorders. For many children with rare or hard-to-treat conditions, clinical trials provide new options.
UW Health Kids
Our pediatric experts have served the special needs of children for more than 100 years. We focus on each child’s unique needs and offer social and emotional support to help you and your child face even the most complex condition. Our long history includes the creation of medical advances that save lives around the world. Together, we get your child back to health and enjoying being a kid.
Signs and symptoms of thalassemia can include:
Easily tired
Weakness
Pale or yellowish skin
Facial bone deformities
Slow growth
Abdominal swelling
Dark urine
Diagnosis
Your child’s doctor will do a full physical exam and take a detailed medical history. They will also request a blood test to measure the number of red blood cells and hemoglobin.
Receiving care from UW Health Kids | Carbone Cancer Care experts at American Family Children’s Hospital means you have access to the knowledge and skills of many medical and support specialists for your child’s complex health diagnosis like cancer.
Your child’s care is our top priority and we understand the unique needs they have. Your child’s team will include:
Oncologists (cancer doctors)
Hematologists (blood disease doctors)
Nurse practitioners
Child life specialists
Pain management specialists
Physical, occupational and speech therapists
Radiologists and radiation technologists
Social workers
Surgeons
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When your child needs hospitalization, they will be admitted to American Family Children's Hospital in Madison, Wis.
Child life specialists help your child and family cope with any fears and anxieties. The American Family Children's Hospital Patient and Family Visitor Guide features information about:
Hero beads
Hospital school
Positive Image Center
Restoring Hope Transplant House (for blood and bone marrow transplant recipients)
Spiritual care services
Tyler's Place (sibling child care)