Thalassemia and Hemoglobinopathies In Pediatric Populations: Prevalence, Diagnostic Insights, And Regional Patterns

Thalassemia and related hemoglobinopathies are inherited disorders affecting hemoglobin production, leading to anemia and other health complications. The average prevalence of β thalassemia trait in India is 3-4% which is 42 million carriers of 121 billion people. This study examines the distribution of hemoglobinopathies among 19,935 pediatric cases across various regions in India, highlighting the importance of early screening and targeted interventions. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was utilized for accurate detection of hemoglobin variants, with findings showing significant regional and demographic differences in disease prevalence.Maximum positivity was seen in children between 4-9 yrs (69.78%), the percentage of positivity seen among infants <1 yr was also significant (28.50%). These prevalence trends seen in Indian paediatric population suggest that prenatal screening should be mandated for the high-risk groups.