How to manage thalassemia major in an 11-month-old baby?

Question

Hello doctor,

My brother's daughter is 11 months old. She is suffering from Thalassemia major. I want to know if there is any other permanent solution to solve this problem.

My query is,

Is there any specialist who can solve this?
If not, then is there any way to make her fit within three months without a blood transfusion?
Please suggest a diet chart for an 11-month-old baby who has low iron.
How can we make her strong?
Is there any medicine available for a child through which we can address this problem?

We are very worried about her.

Please suggest.

Thank you.

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I have read your query and can understand your concern.

Based on your query, my opinion is as follows:

Blood transfusion is still the only solution to maintain good hemoglobin levels so that the body does not go into overproduction. In a few cases, gene therapy and stem cell transplantation have been tried, and a few cases have been successful. Stem cell transplantation can be tried. The best choice is a diet that is poor in iron. Avoid non-vegetarian foods or a vitamin C-rich diet.

A diet rich in fruit and vegetables is better for overall nutrition. Avoid oysters, liver, pork, beans, beef, peanut butter, tofu, or other non-vegan food. Also, avoid iron-fortified cereals, wheat, and ragi, and among fruits and vegetables, prune juice, prunes, watermelon, spinach, leafy green vegetables, dates, raisins, broccoli, peas, and fava beans. Also, look for iron in snacks and candies.

Maintain an iron intake of less than 18 mg per day from the overall diet. As time progresses, the time between blood transfusions reduces due to the formation of alloantibodies. A small donor pool of committed donors forms, with complete matching for her blood group for life. To avoid further antibody risk, you must look for regular blood donation from a small group (committed donors or donor adaptation, five to six donors per case).

Improve hemoglobin through effective transfusions; choosing a small group of regular donors is essential. Try to maintain pre-transfusion of 10 to 10.5 g/dL and post-transfusion of 13 to 14 g/dL, which would help improve overall. Iron chelation is very important.

Treat her normally. Help her understand. Strict discipline and regular transfusions can help her lead a normal life. If proper management starts now, she can easily lead one.

I hope this helps.

Let me know if I need to assist you further.

Thank you.