Proactive screening to prevent thalassemia early

Thalassemia (also known as Thalasemia) is a genetic - congenital disease, characterized by causing excessive hemolysis and often leading to chronic anemia. The disease occurs in both men and women. The disease has two prominent manifestations: anemia and iron overload in the body, so patients must be treated for life. If not treated regularly and fully, there will be many complications that cause the patient to have slow physical development, reduce learning and working capacity.

Screening for early prevention of thalassemia

A carrier of the disease gene is someone who appears completely normal, has no clinical symptoms, and is the source of genetic transmission in the community. Therefore, the probability of carriers meeting and marrying in the community leads to many couples being at risk of having children with the disease without knowing it.

According to statistics from the General Department of Population and Family Planning, Ministry of Health , in Vietnam, there are currently more than 10 million people carrying the Thalassemia gene, over 20,000 patients in need of treatment. Each year, about 8,000 children are born with the disease, of which about 2,000 children have severe disease, requiring lifelong treatment.

Currently, the number of Thalassemia patients has overloaded hospitals, creating heavy pressure on blood "banks" as well as a burden on social costs, especially for many patients in difficult circumstances.

It is estimated that each year Vietnam needs thousands of billions of VND to treat all Thalassemia patients. Thalassemia is an incurable disease, but it is possible to take preventive measures to limit the rate of children born each year with the disease and carrying the disease gene, thereby reducing the burden on society, improving the quality of life and the quality of the race.

In response to World Thalassemia Day (May 8), activities of the health sector will be organized nationwide to raise awareness among leaders at all levels, religious dignitaries, prestigious people in the community, couples of childbearing age, young men and women about to get married... about the importance of pre-marital health consultation and examination; screening, diagnosis, and early treatment of prenatal and neonatal diseases...

At the same time, propaganda and education to change behavior contribute to raising awareness and responsibility of each individual about rights and health care needs, especially Thalassemia, contributing to reducing the economic and mental burden of each family, community, society and improving population quality.

To reduce the burden of treatment and care for patients, medical experts recommend that people can effectively prevent diseases by measures such as: counseling and health check-ups before marriage; screening, diagnosis, and early treatment of prenatal and neonatal diseases, thereby helping them make the right choices about marriage as well as pregnancy and childbirth decisions, in order to give birth to children without Thalassemia.

In particular, if both people carry the Thalassemia gene and get married, they need to be counseled before planning to get pregnant.

If a couple carrying the Thalassemia gene becomes pregnant, prenatal diagnosis is needed when the fetus is 12-18 weeks old at a specialized medical facility.

To reduce the incidence of thalassemia, people should do well not to marry in close relatives, should carry out screening, counseling and prenatal and newborn screening. For the purpose of improving and enhancing the quality of the race and the prosperity of society towards a future that minimizes the number of people with disabilities caused by congenital diseases. To have a healthy and happy family, for the quality of the race and the future of the country, let's actively participate in preventing thalassemia./.

Source: https://sokhcn.caobang.gov.vn/giao-duc-y-te/chu-dong-tam-soat-de-som-phong-benh-tan-mau-bam-sinh-991849