Thalassemia minor.

I came across a few people who were diagnosed as thalassemia minor since their childhood but did not know the implications of this diagnosis. Now they are in their process of settling in life.
They have to be put wise or else it could be disastrous.
Any mild anemia can be due to Thalassemia minor and can not be detected unless tested for.
In India commonest anemia is nutrition deficiency anemia therefore doctors put the child on iron without any tests. If the underlying disease is thalassemia than iron load can be dangerous rather than improving the anemia.
The test for this condition is hemoglobin electrophoresis which is easily available.
If found to be having this condition , one should not take iron and MOST IMPORTANT IS NOT TO MARRY A PARTNER WITH THALASSEMIA MINOR. OTHERWISE CHILDREN BORN OF SUCH PARENTS WILL SUFFER FROM THALLESIMIA MAJOR . Thallasemia major is a very serious condition , where child can not live without weekly blood transfusions and methods of bringing out iron overload from the body.
The best is to go in for tests rather than matching Janam patri before marriage.
mind you this condition is pretty common in certain parts of world including Punjab in India.