الفهرس 
IntroductionOnly 14 pages are availabe for public view
 |  | from | 118 |  |  |
| | | from | 118 | | |
Abstract
Beta-Thalassemia represents a major public health problem in Egypt. The carrier rate varies between 5.5% to ≥ 9%; it is estimated that there are 1000/1.5 million per year live births born with β-thalassemia. In spite of optimal treatment being available, only a few patients can afford it. Unfortunately, most patients suffer from complications of blood transfusions, mainly transfusion transmitted viral infections and iron overload. Prevention by carrier detection and prenatal diagnosis is needed in populations with high incidence of the disease, such as Egypt.
The present study aim to improve the general population health and reduce thalassemia burden, throughout enhancing the preventive measures by carrier identification.
The present study was a descriptive cross sectional study included 134 secondary school children in First district, Ismailia (aged 15-18 years old).
We excluded from our study students who known to had Thalassemia and any genetic disorder already diagnosed andstudents who known to had chronic disease or any terminal illness .
The female students were 72 and male students were 62 out of 134 students .
History was taken from each one and all subjects underwent to the following: Complete blood count, Serum ferritin level, Serum iron level.Three milliliters (ml) of blood were collected from each participant; it was divided as follows :One milliliter for hemoglobin level and Red blood cells indices ,one milliliters for serum ferritin and serum iron and One milliliter for hemoglobin electrophoresis.
Subjects with microcytic anemia , normal serum iron and normal serum ferritin were subjected to specific laboratory tests: HPLC (High Performance Liquid chromatography) which include hemoglobin A2(HbA2).
Complete blood count testing of the 134 subjects in this study revealed that 13.4 % were normal and 86.5% were anemic .Students who had MCV less than 79 (microcytosis) were (32.8%).Subjects with microcytosis were further subdivided into two groups according totheir HbA2 level ,serum iron and serum ferritin to β-thalassemia carrier with high level of HbA2 > 3 % and normal iron profile parameters (serum iron, serum ferritin ) ( group 1) were 5 students (3.7%) ,and non-carrier group; All with low serum iron, and low serum ferritin (group2) were 26 subjects (19.4%) and diagnosed as iron deficiency anemia.
The study conclusion was the Carrier rate among 134 secondary school students in First District in Ismailia, Governorate was 3.7 %.
The study recommended to expand the educational programs to improve public awareness to the disease through mass media and Genetic consoling should be done to prevent birth of Thalassemia major children.