If your child has a microcytic anemia that does not improve with iron therapy, then a thalasemia should be considered. Although certain thalasemias can cause severe anemia, in most cases it just causes a mild anemia that does not cause any symptoms and does not require treatment. Testing for thalasemia includes a hemoglobin electrophoresis. Beta thalasemias are most common in people of Mediterranean and African descent. Alpha thalasemias are most common in African-Americans and people of Asian descent.
Many chronic illnesses can lead to anemia.
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