Disease Information for Sickle cell/thalassemia disease

Sickle thalassemia disease (hemoglobin S-beta-thalassemia) is a combination of sickle cell trait and beta-thalassemia trait; In beta thalassemia, the amount, rather than the kind, of hemoglobin is abnormal; It is found primarily among people from areas around the Mediterranean Sea -- which is how the disease obtained its name as thalassa is the Greek word for "sea"; Clinically this is often as severe as thalassemia major [homozygous]--------------

Thalassemia is diagnosed using blood tests, including a complete blood count (CBC) and special hemoglobin studies;

A CBC provides information about the amount of hemoglobin and the different kinds of blood cells, such as red blood cells, in a sample of blood; People with thalassemia have fewer red blood cells than normal and less hemoglobin than normal in their blood; Carriers of the trait may have slightly small red blood cells as their only sign;

Hemoglobin studies measure the types of hemoglobin in a blood sample; Cooley’s anemia is usually diagnosed in early childhood because of signs and symptoms, including severe anemia; Some people with milder forms of thalassemia may be diagnosed after a routine blood test shows that they have anemia; Doctors suspect thalassemia if a child has anemia and is a member of an ethnic group that is at risk for thalassemia; Family genetic studies are also helpful in diagnosing thalassemia; This involves taking a family history and doing blood tests on family members; Prenatal testing can determine if an unborn baby has thalassemia and how severe it is likely to be----------------[nih website 2006]-----------------Sickle cell disease combination

makes severe disease as thalassemia major; sickle cell disease: A disease usually in blacks characterized by chronic hemolytic anemia, episodic painful crises, and pathologic involvement of many organs; It is the clinical expression of homozygosity for hemoglobin S diagnosed by hemoglobin electrophoresis and characteristic sickling on sicle prep;PCR genetic testing is also used

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