Beta Thalassaemia Carrier
(Also called Beta Thal Minor or Beta Thal Trait)

Carriers of beta thalassaemia are normally healthy and will not know that they are carriers unless they have a special blood test to detect this condition. Although being a beta thalassaemia carrier does not cause any symptoms it's important for them and for their doctors to know if they have this condition for various reasons.

The size and colour of their red cells maybe slightly different from people without this condition. If a person is a carrier of beta thalassaemia and has a blood test for some other reason the fact that they carry beta thalassaemia is not known, it may be confused with other conditions and lead to unnecessary tests and/or treatment.

Before a person who is a carrier of beta thalassaemia decides to have children it's advisable for them to find out as soon as possible if their partner is also a carrier of beta thalassaemia or another interacting haemoglobin such as sickle haemoglobin (Hb S), Hb O Arab or Hb Lepore. This only requires a simple blood test.

This test is advisable because, if positive, there will be a 1 in 4 chance (25%) that any child they have will inherit beta thalassaemia from both parents.

If a child inherits beta thalassaemia from both parents it will have BETA THALASSAEMIA MAJOR. This is usually associated with considerable medical problems.

If a child inherits beta thalassaemia from one parent and Hb E, Hb O Arab or Hb Lepore from the other parent, then the child will have a type of thalassaemia. If this happens the child may develop medical problems associated with beta thalassaemia intermedia or beta thalassaemia major.

If a child inherits beta thalassaemia from one parent and sickle cell from the other parent, then the child will have a type of sickle cell disease called "sickle beta thalassaemia". If this happens the child may develop medical problems associated with sickle haemoglobin.

If your child is a carrier of beta thalassaemia it's advisable for you as parents to find out your haemoglobin types to determine if there is any risk of serious haemoglobinopathy in future pregnancies. It's also advisable to test any other children in your family.

It may cause confusion if somebody thinks it is not beta thalassaemia but a different condition.