HealthInfo Waitaha Canterbury
Thalassaemia
Ngā āhuatanga patu kiko toto
Thalassaemia (thal-ass-ee-me-a) is a type of anaemia that you inherit from your parents – you're born with it.
It happens because your red blood cells cannot carry as much oxygen around your body as normal. This is because haemoglobin, which is the protein that carries oxygen around, is a different shape or size in people with thalassaemia.
Thalassaemia is most common in people who come from southeast and central Asia, the Mediterranean, the Middle East, India, Africa and Polynesia.
Thalassaemia is diagnosed with a blood test.
There are several types of thalassaemia. Some types do not cause health problems, while other types cause severe health problems.
If thalassaemia runs in your family, talk to your general practice team about getting tested.
HealthInfo recommends the following pages
- Patient.info – Thalassaemia
This page explains the different types of thalassaemia, how you inherit it, how it's diagnosed, how it's treated and what effect the different types will have on your life.
Written by HealthInfo clinical advisers. Last reviewed February 2023.
SourcesReview key: HIANA-16978
