Beta thalassemia is an inherited blood disorder caused by a defect in the gene that helps control the production of hemoglobin, which is needed for red blood cells. As a result, people with beta thalassemia have fewer healthy red blood cells.  Beta thalassemia is typically detected through routine screening of newborns. Children with this condition develop anemia and may have symptoms such as pale skin and fatigue. They may also have weakness and enlargement of organs such as the heart, spleen, and liver. When you bring your child to MSK Kids, we’ll do a complete medical work-up to assess your child’s health. Some children with very serious beta thalassemia can be cured with a bone marrow transplant, also called a stem cell transplant. Your child first receives chemotherapy to wipe out the diseased blood cells, and then receives healthy stem cells from a healthy matched donor (ideally a sibling) or umbilical cord blood to rebuild the blood system. At MSK Kids, we have completed cutting-edge stem cell transplants for patients with beta thalassemia with excellent results. If your child has beta thalassemia, your care team will connect you with a transplant doctor right away so you can discuss the risks and benefits.  After a transplant, children might need follow-up treatments to reduce excess iron in their blood. This can decrease the symptoms and complications of thalassemia.