Alpha Thalassemia

Thalassemia is an inherited blood condition that affects the production of hemoglobin and healthy red blood cells in the body. Alpha and beta thalassemia are two types. Thalassemia can cause anemia-like symptoms that range from mild to severe. Blood transfusions and iron chelation therapy could be employed in alpha thalassemia treatment in India. The best treatment plan for you will be determined by your age, overall health, and medical condition. People with moderate to severe thalassemia require blood transfusions on a regular basis. Another treatment option for people with severe thalassemia is stem cell transplantation.

India is one of the most affordable destinations for multiple treatments. The cost of alpha thalassemia treatment in India is quite low. The cost may also vary depending on other factors such as the number of travelers, the country from which one is traveling, and the number of days spent in India .

What Is Alpha Thalassemia?

Thalassemia is a blood disorder that is passed down through families. It affects your body’s ability to produce normal hemoglobin. Red blood cells contain the protein hemoglobin. It enables your red blood cells to transport oxygen throughout your body, nourishing the cells that need it. When you have thalassemia, your body produces fewer healthy hemoglobin proteins, as well as fewer healthy red blood cells in your bone marrow. Anemia is a condition with fewer red blood cells than normal. Because red blood cells are responsible for delivering oxygen to tissues throughout your body, a lack of healthy red blood cells can deprive your body’s cells of the oxygen they require to produce energy and thrive.

Alpha Thalassemia Major (ATM) is an inherited autosomal recessive disease in which two non-functional alpha globin genes are passed down from each parent to the fetus, resulting in the fertilized embryo losing the function of all four alpha globin genes. Pregnancy is at risk for ATM only if both parents have two non-functioning genes, in which case the fetus has a one in four, or 25%, chance of inheriting both sets of non-functioning genes and having ATM.

There are two types of alpha thalassemia that can lead to serious health issues:

• Hemoglobin (Hb) Bart’s hydrops fetalis: Hb Bart’s hydrops fetalis is a severe syndrome that usually kills the developing embryo during pregnancy or shortly after birth; however, recent advances have resulted in better treatments for this condition.
• Hemoglobin H (HbH) disease: HbH disease is highly variable, with symptoms and severity varying greatly from person to person. Some people will experience only minor symptoms, while others may experience potentially serious complications.

What Are the Symptoms of Alpha Thalassemia?

Depending on the type of alpha thalassemia inherited, different people will experience different symptoms. The following are examples of common symptoms of alpha thalassemia:

• Fatigue
• Weakness
• Pale or yellowish skin
• Facial bone deformities
• Slow growth
• Abdominal swelling
• Dark urine
• Jaundice on a regular basis
• Preeclampsia
• Enlarges liver and spleen

Some babies develop thalassemia symptoms at birth, while others develop them during the first two years of life. Some people with thalassemia do not have symptoms because they only have one affected hemoglobin gene.

Alpha Thalassemia Treatment Cost In India

The average Alpha Thalassemia Treatment Cost in India starts from INR 41,000 (USD 500), and for individuals looking for top-notch healthcare at a fraction of the cost paid in many Western nations, India presents a strong alternative. Modern medical facilities, internationally qualified doctors, and reasonably priced treatment alternatives have made India a global center for medical tourism. The nation is home to a large number of specialized Alpha Thalassemia Treatment Centres with cutting-edge equipment and skilled hematologists committed to giving patients complete care.

Factors That Can Affect Alpha Thalassemia Treatment Cost in India

• First-rate patient experience
• The price of treatment packages can depend on the hospital’s preference.
• Doctor’s competence and experience in the subject.
• The patient’s situation: The patient’s disease and whether additional modalities are required for comprehensive treatment.
• Duration of hospitalization and stay in the country.
• Need for post-operative care.
• Hospital room classification.

What Are the Causes of Alpha Thalassemia?

Thalassemia is caused by DNA mutations in cells that produce hemoglobin, the substance in red blood cells that transports oxygen throughout your body. The mutations that cause thalassemia are passed down from parents to children.

Hemoglobin molecules are made up of alpha and beta chains, which can be altered by mutations. The production of either the alpha or beta chains is reduced in thalassemia, resulting in either alpha-thalassemia or beta-thalassemia.

The severity of thalassemia in alpha-thalassemia is determined by the number of gene mutations inherited from your parents. The more mutated genes you have, the worse your thalassemia will be.

Alpha-thalassemia causes: The alpha hemoglobin chain is produced by four genes. Your parents each give you two. If you receive an inheritance:

• 1- mutated gene: With just one faulty gene, you will have no signs or symptoms of thalassemia. However, you are a carrier of the disease, and can infect your children.
• 2-mutated genes: Because of two faulty genes, your thalassemia signs and symptoms will be mild. This condition could be referred to as the alpha-thalassemia trait.
• 3-mutated genes: Because of three mutated genes, your signs and symptoms will range from mild to severe.

It is quite rare to inherit four mutated genes, which usually results in stillbirth. Babies born with this condition frequently die shortly after birth or require transfusion therapy for the rest of their lives. A child born with this condition can be treated with transfusions and a  in rare cases.

How the Diagnosis of Alpha Thalassemia is Made?

Because symptoms usually appear within the first two years of your child’s life, moderate and severe alpha-thalassemia is frequently diagnosed in childhood.

To diagnose alpha-thalassemia, your doctor may order the following blood tests:

• Complete blood count (CBC): It includes hemoglobin and red blood cell quantity (and size) measurements. Thalassemia patients have fewer healthy red blood cells and less hemoglobin than the general population. They may also have red blood cells that are smaller than normal.
• Low reticulocyte count (a measure of young red blood cells): It could mean that your bone marrow isn’t producing enough red blood cells.
• Iron studies: It will reveal whether your anemia is caused by iron deficiency or thalassemia.
• Hemoglobin electrophoresis: It is used to diagnose alpha-thalassemia.
• Genetic testing: It is used to diagnose alpha thalassemia.

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