can thallasemia be cured?

Question

if yes what is the procedure and expenses?

Answer 1

Thalassemia consists of a group of inherited diseases of the blood. About 100,000 babies worldwide are born with severe forms of the disease each year. Thalassemia occurs most frequently in people of Italian, Greek, Middle Eastern, Southern Asian and African ancestry.

The use of frequent blood transfusions and antibiotics has improved the outlook for children with thalassemia major. Children with thalassemia intermedia usually do not require transfusions, although they may be recommended if complications start to develop.

When children with thalassemia major are treated with frequent transfusions (generally every 3 to 4 weeks) aimed at keeping their hemoglobin level near normal, many of the complications of thalassemia can be prevented. This form of treatment, referred to as "hypertransfusion," enhances the child's growth and well-being, and usually prevents heart failure and bone deformities.

Unfortunately, repeated blood transfusions lead to a buildup of iron in the body, which can damage the heart, liver and other organs. A drug referred to as an iron chelator, an iron binding agent, can help rid the body of excess iron, preventing or delaying problems related to iron overload. The drug is usually administered daily via a mechanical pump that pumps the drug underneath the skin while the child is sleeping.

Children with thalassemia major who are treated with frequent blood transfusions and iron chelation live 20 to 30 years or longer. Since intensive chelation treatment was introduced only in the 1960s, continuing studies may show that treated individuals are living even longer.

Thalassemia has been cured using bone marrow transplants. However, this form of treatment is possible only for a small minority of patients who have a suitable bone marrow donor, and the transplant procedure is still risky and can result in death.

Answer 2

Only possible cure to Thalassemia at this time is bone marrow transplantation. Bone marrow transplant is a solution to most of genetic diseases like Thalassemia, Sickle Cell Anaemia, and Cancer etc.
However, finding a proper match is difficult. The child having a transplant should ideally be young and without any other health problems. A sibling has very high chances to be a match for the patient. About 90-95% transplant cases have successfully cured Thalassemia.