Do babies with moderate anemia need to undergo thalassemia screening during physical examination?

When a baby is found to have moderate anemia during a physical examination, it is usually necessary to undergo Mediterranean anemia screening. Mediterranean anemia is a hereditary hemolytic anemia characterized by symptoms such as anemia, jaundice, and hepatosplenomegaly. Screening can help identify the cause and guide subsequent treatment.

Mediterranean anemia screening is mainly conducted through methods such as blood routine, hemoglobin electrophoresis, and genetic testing. Blood routine can detect small cell hypochromic anemia, hemoglobin electrophoresis can detect abnormal hemoglobin, and gene testing can confirm specific gene mutation types. The screening results can help distinguish between iron deficiency anemia and thalassemia, avoiding misdiagnosis and mistreatment. Screening is particularly important for populations with a family history or high incidence areas. If diagnosed with thalassemia, a treatment plan should be developed based on the classification. Mild cases usually do not require special treatment, regular monitoring is sufficient. Intermediate type may require blood transfusion or iron removal therapy. Severe cases require standardized blood transfusion and iron removal treatment, and some patients may consider hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Daily attention should be paid to preventing infections, avoiding vigorous exercise, ensuring balanced nutrition, and regularly following up on blood routine and iron metabolism indicators.

It is recommended that parents take their babies to pediatrics or hematology departments for medical treatment, complete relevant examinations to clarify the cause of anemia. Pay attention to observing whether the baby has pale complexion, fatigue, decreased appetite, and other symptoms in daily life. Reasonably mix foods rich in iron, folate, and vitamin B12 to avoid blindly supplementing iron. After diagnosis, it is necessary to follow the doctor's advice for standardized treatment and regularly review and evaluate the condition.