Comprehensive Clinic for Thalassemia in both Telugu states

 Comprehensive Clinic for Thalassemia in both Telugu states
* Clinic is being setup at Kamineni Hospital, LB Nagar
* Accessible Treatment for Thalassemia to all
* Parental testing, and Genetic counselling is available
* Blood tranfusion and Bone marrow transplantion too
* Thalassemia testing to be done while checking kundali
* Suggests Director Hematology Dr. Sachin Jadhav

Hydearabad, 27th May 2024: Thalassemia is the most dangerous genetic disorder. It is inherited from one or both parents. This can occur in both male and female infants. There are two types of thalassemia. They are, thalassemia carrier (minor) and thalassemia patient (major). If both parents are carriers, then the child has a high chance of getting the thalassemia disease.  The symptoms are Fatigue, Weakness, Pale or yellowish skin, Facial bone deformities, Slow growth, Abdominal swelling, and Dark urine.

A comprehensive clinis to create awareness, offer genetic counselling, and proper treatment is being setup for the both telugu states, i.e. Telangana and Andhra Pradesh at Kamineni Hospital, LB Nagar. Director Hematology & Bone Marrow Transplant Unit, Chairman - International Hematology Consortium, Dr. Sachin Jadhav gave the insights of the disease and the clinic.

"We can detect Thalassemia early. There is a habit of matching Kundalis before marriage in our country. Both the prospective bride and groom should be tested for thalassemia at the same time. In case if any one or both are thalassemia carriers, then they should get genetic counselling. If it is not done at that stage, test should be done at the time of pregnancy. If the wife is tested positive for thalassemia minor, the husband also should be tested on. If he is also positive, then we have to test the fetus at the age of 15-16 week pregnancy. If the fetus is tested positve for thalassemia major, there will be an option for medical termination of pregnancy. If they don't opt for abortion, we'll support the child after birth.

There will not be any problem in the first 5-6 months. Later, the hemoglobin will drop to 4-5 grams. Then, the pediatrician will transfuse the blood. The child needs transfusion once or twice a month. But, frequent transfusions may lead to higher deposits of iron in the body, and the iron get deposited in heart, lungs, and pancreas. We have to use some medicines to control the iron levels. Later, we can test nearest relatives for HLA matching. If anyone have matching, we can go for stemcell transplantation.

Free HLA matching tests
It is more important to develop awareness about thalassemia than to be treated after the onset of the disease. For this, we are already conducting several awareness camps and seminars. We are conducting free tests for many people. We are also conducting free HLA matching tests with the help of a German Foundation. In normal course, the test will cost around Rs 15,000 per person" explained Dr. Sachin Jadhav.

The thalassemia clinic was inaugurated on Monday, the 27th of May. Director Hematology & Bone Marrow Transplant Unit, Chairman - International Hematology Consortium, Dr. Sachin Jadhav, HOD & Sr. Consultant Paediatrician Dr. S. Narasimharao, and  Consultant Pediatrician & Pediatric Intensivist Dr. Kanchan S Channawar were the key speakers at the event. Consultant Paediatrician and Neonatologist Dr. R.V. Soujanya, Consultant Heamato Oncologist Dr. Navya Sri Y also participated.