thalassemia minor and covid immunitycar accident in hartford, ct today
"There is no real benefit for the individual person," said Torben Barington, DMSc, a clinical professor of immunology at the University of Southern Denmark and co-author of the early Danish study. Getting COVID-19 offers some natural protection or immunity from reinfection with the virus that causes COVID-19.It's estimated that getting COVID-19 and COVID-19 vaccination both result in a low risk of another infection with a similar variant for at least six months.. Some of the publications discussing pregnancy in a patient with COVID19 infection mentioned thalassemia, thalassemia trait, and thalassemia minor in the list of comorbidities in the description of their included patients characteristics. These findings may be due to statistical randomness because of the small sample size. Blood types can also serve as receptors for viruses and bacteria, and that could be another factor, explained Dr. Russo, there may be some other, completely different component of type O blood that works to prevent infection. The information in this story is accurate as of press time. If the mutation affects three of your genes, you have a more severe case of alpha-thalassemia. This blood disorder causes your body not to produce enough hemoglobin. 2023 Dotdash Media, Inc. All rights reserved, Lynne Eldrige, MD, is a lung cancer physician, patient advocate, and award-winning author of "Avoiding Cancer One Day at a Time. By. It is possible to have both alpha- and beta-thalassemia. The prevalence among those who were transfusion dependent was roughly the same as people without thalassemia. People with beta thalassemia may be at a higher risk of developing severe disease or death, but studies are conflicting at this time. Epub 2022 Jul 5. 2021.doi:10.1016/j.htct.2021.04.003, Dalamaga M, Karampela I, Mantzoros CS. As a whole, experts recommend that peopleregardless of blood typekeep following CDC guidelines to prevent the spread of COVID-19. COVID-19. That means your genetic sex (based on which sex chromosomes you have) doesnt influence whether you inherit the condition. If you become infected, it's important to talk to a doctor knowledgeable about thalassemia regarding any special precautions you should take or changes to your medical plan. For example, some of the common complications and coexisting conditions caused by thalassemia may also worsen COVID-19. 2020 Jun;25(6):e936-e945. The allergy can develop after a, This inherited blood disorder usually requires vitamin supplement. With more research, we may one day have a clearer understanding of the connection between COVID-19 and different blood types. Abstract. People with certain medical conditions. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Thalassemia International Federation urge people with thalassemia to get the COVID-19 vaccine. Consider talking with a doctor about testing for thalassemia trait if theres a history of thalassemia or thalassemia trait in your family, or if you plan to have a child with someone who has the trait or a family history of it. Immunity is a complex process that involves a lot of moving parts. This means red blood cells aren't made properly or they are destroyed. Beta thalassemia major (Cooley's anemia). Its important for a doctor to order a blood test to confirm the cause of your symptoms to ensure you dont receive any unnecessary treatment. They also shouldnt get it if they have a known allergy to a component of the vaccine. Vitamin and mineral supplementation for -thalassemia during COVID-19 pandemic. In fact, some people prefer being able to communicate with their healthcare providers from the comfort of their own home. Iron overload: Frequent transfusions due to thalassemia can cause a build up of iron in the blood, which can, in turn, lead to heart disease, liver disease, diabetes, adrenal insufficiency, and other issues.These conditions are linked to poorer COVID-19 outcomes. A comprehensive review of hydroxyurea for -haemoglobinopathies: the role revisited during COVID-19 pandemic. Genetic testing is the only way to confirm whether you carry the gene. Most states offer religious exemptions from school vaccine requirements, and some provide exemptions on philosophical grounds. Thalassemias. (2022). Thalassemia trait means you carry the gene that causes the disease, but you dont have the disease yourself. Li J, et al. "All may acquire COVID-19 and all should take the recommended precautions to reduce the risk.". (2022). Thalassemia patients also tend to have complications and coexisting conditions that may put them at an increased risk of severe outcomes, such as hospitalization and death, if they do become infected with COVID-19. This causes less severe anemia. Nicosia, Cyprus: Thalassaemia International Federation; 2017. official website and that any information you provide is encrypted Other types of thalassemia cause more severe symptoms that can be found earlier in life, usually before a child is . Marion Cook. This could be dangerous, as too much iron can cause serious health problems. Moreover, the excess amount of iron, contributing to oxidative stress in the pathogenesis of the disease, alters the immune system in -thalassemia, which is important during the COVID-19 pandemic. Shortness of breath is a common symptom of anemia. Would you like email updates of new search results? Healthline has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical associations. Home isolation in transfusion-dependent thalassemia patients with SARS CoV2 infection: Experience from a developing country. Blood and Bone Marrow Genetic Disorders. Could some people with thalassemia have a natural immunity against SARS-CoV-2? You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our. Kakkar S, et al. In Italy there are about 5000 patients with dependent transfusion thalassemia (source Italian Thalassemia and Hemoglobinopathies - SITE) and a smaller number, currently not definable, of patients with sickle cell anemia in chronic transfusion. Hemoglobin allows your red blood cells to carry oxygen to other cells throughout your body. If you only receive the gene from one parent, you carry the trait for thalassemia. In a very small French study, researchers found that people with thalassemia under the age of 60 had higher rates of severe disease and hospitalization than the general population. Genetic correction of concurrent - and -thalassemia patient-derived pluripotent stem cells by the CRISPR-Cas9 technology. doi: 10.4084/MJHID.2023.007. -. For those who develop COVID-19, doctors should be aware of this increased risk of a secondary bacterial infection so that antibiotics can be started early with any signs, such as a fever. "We all recognize that we're not the same, but we have not been able, on a genetic basis, very often, to determine whether certain people with certain genes are more or less susceptible to get an infection if they're exposed to a germ," said William Schaffner, MD, an infectious disease specialist, and professor at the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine. COVID Increases Risk of Long-Term Brain Injury, Study Shows, COVID Tongue: How a Swollen Tongue Could Indicate COVID-19, Even Mild COVID-19 Infections Increase Risk of Type 2 Diabetes, Research Shows, CDC Adds Mental Health Conditions to High-risk of Severe Illness From COVID List, COVID-19 Pneumoniathe Lung Infection Caused by Getting COVID-19, Does Sunlight Kill COVID-19 and Does Vitamin D Prevent It? (2022). Prevalence and severity of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in transfusion dependent and non-transfusion dependent -thalassemia patients and effects of associated comorbidities: an Iranian nationwide study. Thalassemia is a hereditary disorder that affects the production of hemoglobin. ; 2 Department of Internal Medicine, UOC Medicina Generale, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda, Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy. But blood tests can only lead doctors to presume that you have the trait. Without enough hemoglobin, your red blood cells die more quickly, and your organs and tissues dont get enough oxygen. Torti L, Sorrentino F, Maffei L, De Fabritiis P, Abruzzese E. Mediterr J Hematol Infect Dis. (2020). Am J Hematol. In fact, fewer than 57% of all Americans know their blood type, according to a 2019 survey from Quest Diagnostics. Lack of hemoglobin can lead to insufficient oxygen in your bodily tissues. Still, the study authors wrote, "the impact of blood type on clinical outcomes remains unclear. 2019;133(12):1279-1289.doi:10.1182/blood-2018-10-879247, Yasara N, Premawardhena A, Mettananda S. A comprehensive review of hydroxyurea for -haemoglobinopathies: the role revisited during COVID-19 pandemic. Your doctor can address any particular concerns you may have. This is the most severe form of this disorder. chenevex, France. eCollection 2023. Vaccines & immunizations: Use of COVID-19 vaccines in the U.S. (2022). Telehealth visits, which are appointments with a healthcare provider using electronic devices from your home, are considered the equivalent of an in-person visit in many ways and can provide excellent care in many situations. Our website services, content, and products are for informational purposes only. "As an individual, you have your blood typethere's nothing you can do about it.". Most children with moderate to severe thalassemia show signs and symptoms within their first two years of life. In a 2021 pilot study, researchers found a strong association between the presence of beta thalassemia minor and COVID-19 mortality. Affiliations 1 Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, Universit Degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy. 2021;27:e929207. A temporary drop in hemoglobin levels was noted 3 months after vaccination. Blood types are split up into four major groups, all dependent on the presence or absence of two specific antigens on the surface of the blood: A and B, according to the American Red Cross. Since thalassemia trait causes only mild symptoms, if any, it usually doesnt affect life expectancy. In a large Iranian study, the prevalence of COVID-19 in people with non-transfusion dependent thalassemia (those with the disease not dependent on transfusions) was much higher than in the general population (45 vs. 22.3 infections per 10,000 people). Al-Shamsi HO, Alhazzani W, Alhuraiji A, Coomes EA, Chemaly RF, Almuhanna M, Wolff RA, Ibrahim NK, Chua MLK, Hotte SJ, Meyers BM, Elfiki T, Curigliano G, Eng C, Grothey A, Xie C. Oncologist. At the current time, this is primarily an academic theory. There are three types of thalassemia, one is minor and the other two Alpha and Beta thalassemia are a major threat to health of a person. Newborn screening practices for beta-thalassemia in the United States. Treatment can consist of blood transfusions and iron chelation therapy. If you have beta-thalassemia trait, you have a 50% chance of passing on the affected gene to any child you have. It can cause life threatening heart conditions, such as stroke. 2020;91(3):e2020007. The vaccines cannot give you COVID-19. Vulnerability of -thalassemia heterozygotes to COVID-19: Results from a cohort study. Epub 2020 Apr 27. Impaired immune cell . Sadly, the reduction in the blood supply has led many people with thalassemia to receive fewer transfusions than usual, prompting healthcare providers caring for people with the condition to look for options that may reduce the need for or frequency of transfusions. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), people with thalassemia may be at increased risk of severe illness from COVID-19. Here's What You Need to Know, Omicron Infection Timeline: When Symptoms Start and How Long They Last. Researchers found no link between blood type and COVID-19 risk, adding that more research was needed on the topic. Drouin E, et al. Adrenal insufficiency (a lack of sufficient hormone production by the adrenal glands) can occur with thalassemia. All rights reserved. However, some limited evidence suggests that certain types of thalassemia may have some protective effect against COVID-19. Beta thalassemia. The COVID-19 pandemic has led to blood bank shortages, which have created challenges for people with transfusion-dependent thalassemia.