KARACHI, Jan 8: Thalassaemia identified as the most common genetically transmitted disorder in Pakistan makes it imperative for across the board screening of thalassaemia carriers, coupled with provision to mention their singularity being minor or major carriers in the national identity cards.

The fact that there are some eight to ten million carriers of minor thalassaemia in our country, and more than 5,000 children are born with thalassaemia major each year also, make important to ensure screening for B-thalassaemia carriers at marriage and ante-natal diagnosis of the fetus as early as 10 weeks of pregnancy.

According to experts, less than 25 per cent children born with thalassaemia major, are diagnosed and registered, hence a large majority of these patients remains unidentified and undiagnosed. While more than 50 per cent of the registered major thalassaemics die before their 15th birthday, a majority of unregistered patients are feared to die much earlier.

Ironically while screening for thalassaemia is available in numerous centres in the country, not many doctors are aware of its accurate interpretation and preventive counselling.

Meanwhile, the facility of confirmatory test Hb-electroprohesis, is available in only eight to 10 centres and is limited to major cities only.

The very situation leaves almost 80 per cent of the affected families without getting their children and close family members screened for carrier status. The ignorance leads less than 25 per cent of the registered patients to be immunized against hepatitis-B.

Thus prevalence of hepatitis-C in local thalassaemics is about 60 per cent and that of Hepatitis B five per cent. Fortunately no thalassaemic has been found to be positive for HIV.—APP