The signs and symptoms of Thalassemia are- 

• Fatigue
• Weakness
• Pallor
• Slow growth
• Dark urine
• Abdominal swelling
• Facial deformities
• Jaundice
• Anaemia

Thalassemia can be diagnosed by Blood samples in which the red blood cells are looked under the microscope to assess their shape and number. Haemoglobin electrophoresis is carried out in order to distinguish the abnormal cells from the RBCs and hence, the type of Thalassemia can be identified. Iron levels are constantly monitored and in case of an enlarged spleen, tests for Haemoglobin H disease are carried out. 

• Iron Chelating Therapy- There is a build-up of iron in the body due to regular blood transfusions. In order to prevent iron from accumulating in various organs like liver and heart, the excess iron has to be removed. 
• Lifelong Blood Transfusions- Due to the abnormal production of globin proteins and the destruction of red blood cells in the body, regular blood transfusions are required. This can be inconvenient and can also cause adverse effects in the body. 
• Removal of Spleen– In case of hypersplenism, the requirement for blood transfusion increases and reduces the effectiveness of the iron chelation therapy, and hence has to be removed.
• Bone Marrow Transplant – Also called as Stem cell Transplant, it is a permanent alternative instead of the lifelong blood transfusions required otherwise.

In case of a Bone Marrow Transplant, the major risk is Graft-versus-Host disease in which the donor cells start to attack those of the recipient and hence causes problems in relation to immunity. In addition to this, there is a chance of Graft rejection in which the donor stem cells do not function effectively in the recipient and fail to differentiate into blood cells. This would lead to thrombocytopenia and anaemia. The patient may also be prone to several infections after surgery and may experience nausea, vomiting, fatigue, weakness and diarrhoea. There are possibilities of damages to the liver, delayed growth in children, clotting in blood vessels and even bleeding in the essential organs of the body.

After a bone marrow transplant, the patient is monitored by the doctor for signs of graft rejection. A medication for GVHD is given to prevent it from occurring. Antifungals, antivirals and antibiotics are also given in order to prevent all sorts of infections. Regular blood tests are conducted in order to check if blood counts are back to normal and to check the functioning of the donor’s stem cells in the recipient. The patient may require blood transfusions in case of too much blood loss or slow recovery.