Thalassemia Treatment in India

What is thalassemia?

Thalassemia is a genetic disorder of the blood found in children. In India over 10,000 children are born each year with the major form of this often fatal condition. Thalassemia in the severe form is called Thalassemia Major.
Children with Thalassemia inherit the genes from both parents. The treatment needs regular blood transfusions, and the frequency of transfusions affect the normal life of a child with Thalassemia.
The child becomes listless and irritable a few months after birth, as an indication of Thalassemia.  By 6-9 months, most children need regular blood transfusions for survival.
Thalassemia is an inherited disease that happens because of a lack of proper hemoglobin protein in the blood. Hemoglobin carries oxygen throughout the body.
The blood cells containing defective hemoglobin cannot fully carry oxygen to the different parts of the body resulting in anemia, fatigue, and bone deformities.   

You may want to understand  the causes of thalassemia

Thalassemia is an inherited blood disorder which manifests early in childhood, usually in the first year itself. It is a disease caused by gene abnormality resulting in abnormal formation of hemoglobin- the oxygen carrying protein of Red Blood Cells in the blood. As a result the red blood cells are inefficient and their life span is often short. Hence, the patients require frequent and life-long blood transfusions to survive. But it is heartening that though 10-12,000 children are diagnosed with thalassemia each year, less than 10% of patients in India are managed as per internationally-recommended guidelines which include safe blood transfusion on time, effective iron- chelation and multidisciplinary care in a comprehensive thalassemia care center.

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What are the causes of thalassemia?

When you receive abnormal hemoglobin genes from your parents, then thalassemia is caused. If you receive defective genes from one of your parents, you may develop only a minor type of thalassemia.
If both parents are responsible for your thalassemia, then you may get a severe form of thalassemia. Thalassemia is not infectious and cannot be transmitted like cold or flu.
You may want to know about the types of thalassemia.

What are the types of thalassemia?

There are mainly two types of thalassemia- alpha and beta-thalassemia.
Hemoglobin is a protein in our body that is produced according to the instructions received from the genes. Proteins contain amino acids, which are chain-like structures, and hemoglobin consists of chains called alpha and beta chains.
Genes consist of a sequence of building blocks called nucleotides. If there is a wrong sequence of nucleotides (also called a mutation), then defective protein formation occurs.
Mutations in alpha-chain and beta-chain coding genes lead to structural changes in the hemoglobin protein and make it unfit for carrying oxygen.
Alpha thalassemia is caused when four genes responsible for producing the alpha chain in the hemoglobin protein are mutated, and Beta thalassemia is caused when there are defects in two copies of the beta chain-producing hemoglobin protein.

You may like to know the diagnostic test for thalassemia.

What is the Diagnostic Test for thalassemia?

If the doctor suspects that you have thalassemia, he may suggest you for a blood test. The blood test will tell about the shape of the blood cells and the hemoglobin content in the blood.
Electrophoresis ( A technique to separate different types of proteins in the blood )  of hemoglobin is done further to detect the type of thalassemia you have.
Genetic testing of the thalassemia of the unborn baby is also possible during the pregnancy of the mother.
Amniocentesis or prenatal testing is done when fluid is collected from the region surrounding the baby in the mother’s womb and checked for chromosomal abnormalities.  You may be thinking in your mind about the symptoms of thalassemia.

What are the symptoms of thalassemia?

Symptoms of thalassemia include 

• Yellow or pale skin 
• Bones deformity, 
• Enlarged spleen, 
• Weakness and fatigue, 
• Dark urine coloration, 
• Poor appetite, 
• Stunted growth in children 
• Thalassemia symptoms generally start showing up after a year of birth.
• You may like to get insights on  the complications caused by thalassemia.

What are the complications caused by thalassemia?

Thalassemia may develop complications in the body or the complications may be due to repeated blood transfusion.

• Excessive iron overload: Excessive iron can accumulate in the tissues and cause organ damage. The liver, kidney, and heart may get affected 
• Enlarged Spleen: Spleen has to work harder to remove the defective blood cells from the body, and as a result, it may get affected. 
• Bones deformities: The bones of the face may get distorted and puberty may be delayed. Thalassemia causes expansion of the bone of the skull and the face making them deformed and abnormal.  
• Heart Problems: Congestive heart failure and abnormal heart rhythms are the complications of thalassemia

You may like to have a deeper look on how the management of thalassemia is done

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How is thalassemia managed?

Blood Transfusion:

You will require a blood transfusion at least once in a month to provide you with good blood cells in your body. As you grow up, the frequency of blood transfusion may change.

Chelation Therapy:

The excessive iron from the blood and the tissues is removed using this type of therapy. This therapy prevents damage to organs like the liver, and heart.
You may like to know about  the permanent treatment for thalassemia.

Best Thalassemia treatment in India

Bone marrow transplantation:

Bone marrow transplant is the curative and the best thalassemia treatment in India
The stem cells in the bone marrow will give rise to new blood cells which are healthy. There are two types of bone marrow transplants. One is autologous and another is allogenic.
An autologous transplant involves the collection of bone marrow cells from the hip bones of the patient before transplanting them through central venous catheters. ( a tube connecting the collarbone with the central vein of the heart).
HLA typing is done before allogeneic transplantation. HLA is a specific protein that is present in the white blood cells of your body and if the HLA matches with the sibling or the patient then allogeneic transplantation is done.

What is the typical approach of doctors to treat thalassemia?

According to the severity of thalassemia, beta-thalassemia can be of two types thalassemia major and thalassemia intermedia.
Thalassemia intermedia can be treated with less number of blood transfusions and iron chelation therapy whereas the major type of beta thalassemia requires at least 12 times transfusions in a year along with iron chelation therapy.
For both types of thalassemia, permanent cure is definitely a bone marrow transplant – either autologous or allogeneic.
Bone marrow transplantation has the ability to completely cure thalassemia. It may take 4-6 months for your body to completely recover from thalassemia. There are few side effects and complications of a bone marrow transplant.
Conditioning is a process in which defective blood cells are killed using chemotherapy prior to bone marrow transplantation. This may have side effects like chills, fever, bleeding, fatigue, and skin problems.
Complications of bone marrow transplant include graft versus host disease. The newly transferred bone marrow cells may attack your own body cells causing various health problems. Medicines are prescribed by the doctor to suppress this action by the newly grafted cells.

What is the best country for thalassemia treatment?

The countries where permanent treatment for thalassemia is available are the USA, UK, Singapore, India, and Germany.
In developed countries, the cost can be very high whereas, in India, you are able to manage the cost with proper medical facilities.
In India, there are highly efficient doctors and trained nurses who can continuously monitor your patient’s disease.

Best hospital for thalassemia treatment in India

There are many reputed hospitals for the treatment of thalassemia in India. A bone marrow transplant can be done at these hospitals under the supervision of the best thalassemia doctors in India.

What is the success rate of bone marrow transplants in curing thalassemia?

The success rate of bone marrow transplant in curing thalassemia is 85-90%

Best doctor for Bone Marrow Transplant in India

We are associated with a wide pool of doctors who are renowned in the field of bone marrow transplantation with years of expertise. This gives you the option to choose one according to your budget.

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• Providing a doctor’s opinion and proper quotation
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Max Super Specialist Hospital Saket

Number of beds:   500
ICU Beds:                 267
Airport Distance: 13 KM

Brief About:

• Max Super Speciality Hospital at Saket is one of the topmost healthcare service
• Providers in India. The multi-super speciality hospital has a capacity of over 500 beds, 250 functional beds. It is equipped with state-of-the-art facilities, advanced technologies.
• With the help of over 300 leading specialist Doctors, strong nursing staff, and state-of-the-art innovative medical tools.

Indraprastha Apollo Hospital

No. of beds: 900
ICU Beds:     262
Airport:        20kms

Brief About:

• Indraprastha Apollo Hospital is a flagship hospital of India’s foremost healthcare groups,the Apollo Group. It is a highly renowned multi-speciality facility that offers tertiary and quaternary care services to domestic and international patients.
• The 900 bedded hospital is outfitted with the most modern technology for diagnostics as well as therapeutic purposes.
• A team of highly trained medical professionals work under all the 52 specialities at the hospital.

Max Super Specialist Hospital Saket

Number of beds:   500
ICU Beds:                 267
Airport Distance: 13 KM

Brief About:

• Max Super Speciality Hospital at Saket is one of the topmost healthcare service
• Providers in India. The multi-super speciality hospital has a capacity of over 500 beds, 250 functional beds. It is equipped with state-of-the-art facilities, advanced technologies.
• With the help of over 300 leading specialist Doctors, strong nursing staff, and state-of-the-art innovative medical tools.

Artemis Hospital Gurgaon

Number of beds:  600
ICU Beds:                185
Airport Distance: 19 Km

Brief About:

• Artemis Hospital, established in 2007, spread across 9 acres, is a 600plus bed; state-of-the-art multi-speciality hospital located in Gurgaon, India.
• Artemis Hospital is the first JCI and NABH accredited hospital in Gurgaon.
• Designed as one of the most advanced hospitals in India, Artemis provides a depth of expertise in the spectrum of advanced medical & surgical interventions, a comprehensive mix of inpatient and outpatient services.

Medanta The Medicity Hospital

Number of beds:  1250
ICU Beds:                300
Airport Distance: 18 KMs

Brief About:

• Medanta – The Medicity is amongst India’s largest and most renowned multi-super speciality healthcare centre with 1250 beds, 29 super speciality units and more than 800 accomplished doctors.
• Supported by state-of-art infrastructure, all the departments in the hospital are fully equipped with cutting-edge technology, modular Operation Theatre and modernized monitoring systems in ICUs.
• The panel of doctors from Medanta, headed by A.S.Soin performed the first successful intestinal transplant in India.

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We offers these Services

• Providing a doctor’s opinion and proper quotation
• Selecting the best hospital and doctor as per your case
• Arranging a call with the doctor (if the case required)
• Visa assistance, Providing Visa Invitation Letter (VIL)
• Providing full guidance how to get Visa from your country
• Providing total cost including treatment, air tickets, accommodation, and food
• Assitance to book flight ticket from your country
• Arranging airport pick up/ drop
• Providing professional language interpreter
• Booking accommodation and guest house as per your budget/ prefrence
• Providing help in money exchanging
• Providing local sim card
• Arranging video consultation with specialist doctor if case requires

Fortis Memorial Research Institute

Number of beds:    1000
ICU Beds:                  298
Airport Distance:  17 KMs

Brief About:

• Fortis Memorial Research Institute was established in 2001.
• It is an outstanding multi-speciality quaternary care hospital,having the top-notch infrastructure, advanced equipment, highly qualified and experienced medical professionals and super sub-specialists.
• Fortis Hosptial Gurgaon is an advanced centre of excellence in Robotic Surgery, Neurosciences, Oncology, Renal Sciences, BMT, Organ Transplants, Orthopaedics, Cardiac Sciences and Obstetrics & Gynaecology.

Sanar International Hospital

Number of beds:   130
ICU Beds:                  35
Airport Distance:  20 Km

About Hospital:

• Sanar International Hospital was established in 2018.
• Sanar International Hospital founded by Mr. Naresh Kapoor.
• Sanar International Hospital offers comprehensive advanced surgical care in specialties like Cancer, Heart, Blood and Marrow Transplant, Lung, Liver, and Neurosciences along with other major departments with advanced state-of-the-art facilities.

W Pratiksha Hospital

Number of beds: 110
ICU Beds:                 31
Airport Distance: 19 KMs

About Hospital:

• Established in 1995, W Pratiksha Hospital is a 110+ bedded flagship hospital of the Pratiksha group.
• W Pratiksha Hospital in Gurgaon, the flagship hospital of Pratiksha Group is a one-of-its-kind facility in Gurgaon that brings to you 30 years of experience.
• The hospital has treated more than 25,000 people In 2018.
  

Accord Superspeciality Hospital

Number of beds:   380+
ICU Beds:                  41
Airport Distance:  46 Km

About Hospital:

• The story of Accord began with the thought of leveraging the new age technology with the healthcare infrastructure to serve the patients, rightly, effectively, and timely.
• Accord Superspeciality Hospital (A Unit Of SCL Healthcare Pvt. Ltd) is India’s first smart hospital and one of the first of its kind in the world.
• Accord Superspeciality Hospital aims at providing technologically advanced healthcare services to international patients who are looking out for medical tourism in India.

Aakash Health Care Delhi

Number of beds:  230
ICU Beds:                70
Airport Distance: 10 Km

About Hospital:

• Aakash Healthcare Super Speciality Hospital is a tertiary care facility, with 15 Dialysis, and 70 Critical care beds for treating the most complex cases in the National Capital Region (NCR) of Delhi, Dwarka.
  
• The hospital is equipped with state of the art infrastructure, latest technology, competent clinicians and compassionate staff.
  
• Aakash Healthcare Super Specialty Hospital is known for its leading care in Orthopaedic and Joint replacement surgery.
  

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We offers these Services

• Providing a doctor’s opinion and proper quotation
• Selecting the best hospital and doctor as per your case
• Arranging a call with the doctor (if the case required)
• Visa assistance, Providing Visa Invitation Letter (VIL)
• Providing full guidance how to get Visa from your country
• Providing total cost including treatment, air tickets, accommodation, and food
• Assitance to book flight ticket from your country
• Arranging airport pick up/ drop
• Providing professional language interpreter
• Booking accommodation and guest house as per your budget/ prefrence
• Providing help in money exchanging
• Providing local sim card
• Arranging video consultation with specialist doctor if case requires