Beta Thalassemia Trait of Infant and Supplements

Dear Andy,

My 13 month old daughter has been detected Beta Thalassemia Trait with hb-8.1. Her hematologist advised 2.5mg of Folic Acid Daily along with Vitamin and Spirulina tablet 1000mg daily. Moreover, told me to recheck after two months.

Is these supplements are sufficient for her.

Would you pls advise at your early convenience.

Would someone pls respond

I think that is good advice. The child's Hb is low for a minor and this can be improved with diet and nutrition. Encourage a healthy diet with fresh fruit and vegetables and avoidance of junk food. As she gets older, you may want to expand on the supplements she is getting. Vitamin D is often needed, and her level should be periodically tested. You may also want to eventually try powdered wheatgrass, as it may help her Hb rise.

Thank you very much Andy for your valuable feedback,

My Daughter suffered from pneumonia for about 12 days and treated by antibiotic injections. In order to diagnosis the pneumonia incidentally found hypochomia, micro cells with target cells and fragmented cells, and subsequently did Hb-Electrophoresis to rule out the trait and found:

HB A- 92.4%
HB A2- 5%
HB F -2.6% 

Presence of the above abnormal hemoglobin only responsible for low level of HB or severe illness due to pneumonia does have any affect?

Moreover, during her illness she barely took any food indeed during those days.

How long should I continue these supplements and when should I recheck her HB level?

Would you ple advise?

The hemoglobins found are not abnormal. The levels of HbF and HbA2 are as bit higher due to thal minor, but they are not why the hemoglobin is low. The hemoglobin level is low because there is not enough beta globin being produced due to the thal gene. The illness might have also lowered the current Hb. This will only be temporary if it is lowered. Check the Hb again only after she has been over the illness for at least two weeiks.

The child will always be thal minor. I recommend lifelong supplements. It makes a big difference in quality of life.

Thank you very much Andy for your valuable advise. When we found our daughter BThal-Trait, subsequently both me and her mother did the Hb-Electrophoresis to rule out trait, and found myself Beta-Thalassemia Trait.

HBA-93.9
HbA2-6.1

But no presense of HbF. So my question is why, HBF-2.6 is present in my daughter's Blood.

Since I am also the carrier so what supplements should I take and what quantity, would you pls advise.

Thanks in advance.

The electrophoresis test is not exact. If you were to repeat the test, you would most likely see slightly different results. You probably do have a level of HbF that is not being measured in the test, and this relies somewhat on the expertise of the lab tech running the test, so small amounts can be missed. However, there is no reason to expect the percentages to be exactly as the child's as other genetic factors do play a role. Again, HbF adds the the total Hb level, so it is not a problem at all.

Thank you very much