ISSN 2326-7291
International Journal of Public Health and Epidemiology ISSN 2326-7291 Vol. 9 (1), pp. 001-004, January, 2020. © International Scholars Journals
Full Length Research Paper
Beta thalassemia major: The Moroccan experience
M. Agouzal1*, A. Arfaoui1, A. Quyou1 and M. Khattab2
1Biological Assays Laboratory, Ibn Tofail University, Morocco.
2Hemato-oncology Service, Ibn Sina hospital, Rabat, Morocco.
Accepted 17 October, 2019
Abstract
Thalassemia has been described originally around the Mediterranean Sea. The main objective of this study is to find out how Morocco deals with it. It is a retrospective study which has been done in the hemato-oncology service that treats patients with beta thalassemia major who are registered for receiving blood transfusions. With sample size of 78, demographics, clinical and family data were collected and descriptive statistics were done in the Biological Assays Laboratory in Kenitra, which lasted for three months. Age ranges from 5 to 10 years. 20 and 30 kg is the most common weight of patients with thalassemia. 61% are issued from consanguineous marriages. All patients are transfused but only 14% are not chelated as they have a ferritinnemia rate < 1000 ng/ml. Among these patients 74% are low-income earners. These results confirm that thalassemia is a reality in our country. A public health policy towards this disease is highly recommended.
Key words: Beta thalassemia major, complications, treatments, consanguinity, Morocco.