Thalassemia: Common Myths You Hear Every Day About This Blood Disorder

Thalassemia has NO CURE.

Shocking, isn’t it?

This is just one of many myths surrounding the blood disorder that this blog will bust today.

But first, let’s throw some light on what exactly thalassemia is.

Thalassemia is an inherited blood disorder that affects the body’s ability to produce haemoglobin and healthy red blood cells. It is the most common form of genetic blood disorder in the UAE.

Alpha and beta are the two types of thalassemia. The patient experiences moderate to severe symptoms in alpha-thalassemia (thalassemia major), whereas in beta-thalassemia (minor thalassemia), the patient experiences mild symptoms.

According to the Ministry of Health and Prevention, at least 8.5% of the UAE’s population are thalassemia minors, those who carry the gene.

The UAE government is continuously working towards various forms of prevention to reduce the potential risk of increasing the population of thalassemia major.

Despite living in the 21st century, several myths surrounding thalassemia prevail in society still, which are extremely dangerous and can cause unnecessary panic.

Thalassemia Myths

Myth 1: Thalassemia Can’t Be Prevented.

Fact 1: It is not true. According to the experts, thalassemia can be prevented if diagnosed during pre-marital and early pregnancy screening.

The prenatal diagnosis can help prevent newer cases of thalassemia. Taking these necessary steps to identify carriers of haemoglobin disorders early on can help avoid high-risk marriages, where couples can then decide whether to have an affected child or not.

Myth 2: There Is No Cure For Thalassemia Major

Fact 2: Thalassemia is a considerable threat in the UAE, with the highest carrier frequency globally of 49% of alpha-thalassemia.

However, that doesn’t mean that there is no cure for thalassemia major. The doctor may recommend the below-mentioned treatments depending on the severity of the illness.

• Blood Transfusion
• Bone Marrow (Stem Cell) Transplant
• Folic Acid Supplements
• Surgical Procedure
• Gene Therapy
• Iron Chelation

Myth 3: Marriage Is Big ‘NO’ Between Thalassemia Carriers

Fact 3: Thalassemia minor carriers can get married to each other but must get the DNA tested to determine the mutation. 

At 8-10 weeks of pregnancy, the expecting mother must undergo an antenatal diagnosis of thalassemia to avoid any potential risk.

Myth 4: Carrier Parents Will Always Have Children With Thalassemia 

Fact 4: There is a 25% chance that the child will be born with thalassemia only when both parents carry haemoglobin-linked genes. However, when only one parent has defective genes, the condition cannot be passed on to the child.

Conclusion

All hope is not lost for thalassemia patients in the UAE.

And we at Pharma Solutions, a pharmaceutical distribution company in the Gulf, in our effort to fight this deadly disease, have procured the first affordable generic drug for patients, which cuts the Thalassemia treatment cost by almost 40%. 

The drug is an iron chelator used to treat patients with iron overload due to transfusion when the current chelation therapy is inadequate.

We are one of the most renowned pharma distributors in the Gulf, and our team of experienced professionals have extensive knowledge in the pharma field. 

We have been assisting pharmaceutical and innovative healthcare companies aiming to venture into the emerging markets of the GCC & MENA region.

We are actively involved in facilitating licensing, commercialization, marketing, and distribution of FDA/EMA-approved innovative pharmaceuticals while strengthening the healthcare system of the UAE.

Want to know more about our services and the first affordable generic drug for Thalassemia patients in the UAE?

Connect with us today.