Thalassemia: A Comprehensive Guide to its Symptoms and Treatments

5. Enlarged spleen

One significant symptom of this disorder is an enlarged spleen. The spleen is an organ in the body which helps protect it from infection. It's also useful in filtering toxins and other useless materials. Remember that thalassemia destroys the red blood cells in the body. Because of this, the spleen needs to work a lot harder, and so it ends up getting enlarged.

Some people opt for a splenomegaly. However, this can worsen anemia and shorten the life of transfused blood. If your spleen becomes too enlarged, the best treatment for it is to have it removed. A doctor will remove the spleen in a process called splenectomy.