11.4% of Bangladeshis thalassemia carriers: BBS
If both the bridegroom and bride are carriers of thalassemia, they should not get married.
Around 11.4% of the country's total population are carriers of the inherited blood disorder known as thalassemia, according to the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS).
Among the female population, 11.2% are carriers of thalassemia while the number is 11.9% among the male populace. The Rangpur division has the highest number with 27.7% of its population being carriers of the blood disorder followed by Rajshahi with 11.3% and Chattogram with 11.2%.
Mymensingh has 9.8% carriers while the number is 8.6% for Dhaka and Khulna and 7.3% for Barishal. But Sylhet has the lowest number with 4.8% carriers.
Both intending spouses should be tested for thalassemia carriers before marriage or before having children. If both the bridegroom and bride are carriers of thalassemia, they should not get married.
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The BBS published the National Thalassemia Survey-2024 report today. The survey was conducted on 8,680 households among the married and unmarried population aged 14-35 years.
What is Thalassemia?
The BBS report mentioned that thalassemia is a hereditary blood disorder in which the body produces an abnormal form of haemoglobin that does not allow the body to make enough of the correct haemoglobin.
The disorder results in the excessive destruction of red blood cells, leading to anaemia. Thalassemia is mainly of two types — alpha and beta thalassemia.
Marriage should be stopped between carriers: Expert
Dr Gulzar Hossain Ujjal, associate professor at the Department of Haematology of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University, told TBS that 70,000 children are affected by thalassemia in the country.
As many as 6,000 thalassemia deaths occur in Bangladesh every year, he said.
"One in 10 of us is affected. So now we have to create awareness on a large scale. If not, this number will double in the next 10 years," Dr Gulzar said.
He added, "A little awareness can prevent the disease. Both intending spouses should be tested for thalassemia carriers before marriage or before having children. If both the bridegroom and bride are carriers of thalassemia, they should not get married."
Thalassemia is a blood disorder and is a hereditary blood disorder.
That is, it is inherited. From father or mother to child. If both parents carry the thalassemia gene, there is a 25% chance of having a child with thalassemia. And the remaining 50% are carriers and 25% are completely benign children.
"It is caused by a defective gene which is the important component of the blood haemoglobin, which has two parts — heme and globin. A defect occurs in the portion of the globin that is caused by the gene. As a result, it cannot be produced properly. Defective haemoglobin reduces the normal lifespan of red blood cells by 120 days. As a result, the patient becomes weak," Dr Gulzar.
"Thalassemia patients need blood for treatment. According to the type, once a month, once in two months, once a year, blood has to be transfused. We give folic acid as a supplement. In addition, some drugs are now in use. There are some injections that keep the blood production process going."
This disease requires lifelong treatment. In fact, in Bangladesh, any chronic disease that will last a lifetime is difficult for common people to bear.
Dr Gulzar observed the number of quality blood banks in Bangladesh is very low and there are very few blood transmission centres. He suggested that the government has to act in this area, increasing the number of blood transmission centres. Awareness should be created among people, he added.
"Once there were a large number of thalassemia patients in Cyprus, Iran and Egypt. They could prevent the disease a lot by taking blood tests and prevention before marriage. If we try we can too."
During the release of the BBS report, State Minister for Planning Shahiduzzaman Sarker said, "Before marriage, blood tests should be conducted. Then we can save our future generations from the disease."
