If baby thalassemia patients are healthy otherwise and they have normal immune systems - I believe that it is very important to let them develop healthy immune systems early in life.
During the first few years of life children can have 8 - 10 colds a year, they should play with dirt and come into contact with some germs. These things help fine tune their immune system. At the same time they should receive vital supplements and a very nutritious diet to help this process take place. They should also be able to play with other children and have exposure to common germs and colds like other children.
I believe this because thal children are often over protected and just as these restrictions prevent proper bone development, social and self esteem development - I believe it interferes with proper development of the immune system. It may seem like the trade of in the early years is perhaps some drop in hemoglobin and a few extra transfusions but in the long run your child will benefit. Also, a healthy immune system is required to deal with the oxidative effects of iron throughout life.
This is how they will benefit - once they are of school age they may get fewer colds when they are exposed to other children. They will be less likely to develop asthma, allergies and autoimmune illness (such as autoimmune hemolytic anemia AIHA) - which can have devastating effects for a child having thalassemia.
In essence, if children get more colds when they are younger they may need a few extra transfusions early in life - but the tradeoff is that they may not far fewer when they are older because they will have developed healthy immune systems - immune systems which are neither over nor underactive.
I say this because my son grew up with adults, he did not get a single cold until 4 years of age and his immune system is very strong when it comes to colds and flu. Can you imagine, when his entire school was hit with the norovirus he was the only child to recover in one day - the other kids were sick for a week or more. But his immune system is very over active - which may have contributed to his production of autoantibodies and certain allergies.
This is my theory - that very young thal patients (first few years of life) should not be over protected - they should be exposed to common colds, run, jump, play so that they can become strong. They should receive healthy supplements, vitamin C (as required for particular patient), IP6, vitamin e, tumeric etc etc - they should have genotype testing to avoid exposure to problem causing antigens. You want to fine tune their immune system to deal with thalassemia and iron - as well to avoid antibodies.
I don't know if this applies to older thal patients - because they probably won't benefit from all of this as their immune system is already developed. In those cases it may be best to avoid exposure and take lots of supplements!!
Andy, do you agree with this?
Sharmin