Let me share with you a difference between thalassemia and anemia.
| Aspect | Thalassemia | Anemia |
| Introduction | A group of inherited blood disorders affecting the production of hemoglobin | A condition characterized by a reduced number of red blood cells or a decrease in the amount of hemoglobin in the blood |
| Causes | Genetic mutations that affects the synthesis of alpha or beta globin chains of hemoglobin | Nutritional deficiencies |
| Types | · Alpha thalassemia
· Beta thalassemia |
· Iron-deficiency anemia
· Vitamin-deficiency anemia |
| Inheritance | Autosomal recessive inheritance pattern for most types | Can be inherited or acquired, with diverse inheritance patterns for different types |
| Clinical Features | · Fatigue
· weakness · pallor · jaundice · enlarged spleen · Bone deformities in severe cases |
· Fatigue
· weakness · Pallor · Shortness of breath · Dizziness |
| Treatment | · Blood transfusions
· Iron chelation therapy · Bone marrow transplant |
· Dietary changes
· Iron supplements |
| Risk Factors | · Genetic factors and family history | · Age
· Gender · Diet · Chronic diseases |
| Prevalence | More prevalent in populations with a high degree of consanguinity (related marriages) | Anemia can occur in individuals of all ages and populations |