Definition:
Thalassemia minor is an inherited form of hemolytic anemia that is less extreme than thalassemia major. These small red blood cells (RBCs) carry less oxygen than normal RBCs.
Diagnosis:
The diagnosis of thalassemia trait and thalassemia major is made from microscopic examination of the blood, which manifests many small, pale red blood cells, and from other blood tests that show reduced levels of adult hemoglobin in the blood.
Treatment:
No treatment is necessary for thalassemia minor. In particular, iron is neither required nor advised.
Symptoms and Signs:
People with thalassemia minor have (at most) mild anemia (with slight lowering of the hemoglobin level in the blood).
Causes:
Thalassemia is a genetically determined disease, and it tends to be found in individuals whose families come from the Mediterranean region, Africa, and sometimes Asia.
