Formerly fatal, but now treatable. Symptoms in addition to standard anemia are bleeding in mucous membranes and skin, gingivitis, and shortness of breath. Usually found in younger patients. Transfusions, bone marrow transplantation, immunosuppressant drugs Thalassemia Genetic blood disease caused by a defect in the rate of production of hemoglobin. Thalassemia minor is the more common and milder form, in which life span is normal.
Thalassemia major can be serious but it is fortunately very rare.
Affects males and females equally. Most common in people of Mediterranean descent, especially Italians and Greeks. Both types of thalassemia are found in an area that extends from northern Africa and southern Europe to Thailand, including Iran, Iraq, Indonesia, and southern China. Thalassemia major is more common in families who intermarry. No treatment necessary for thalassemia minor.