Prevalence of thalassaemia in schoolchildren in north-eastern Badia, Jordan

The prevalence of the different types of thalassaemia and that of iron deficiency anaemia was investigated in 1020 schoolchildren [age range: 6-15 years] from the north-eastern Badia region of Jordan. beta-thalassaemia minor was the most prevalent [3.04%], followed by alpha 2-thalassaemia [2.06%]. Only three cases of alpha 1-thalassaemia and one case of beta-thalassaemia major were found. Iron deficiency anaemia was diagnosed in 54 children [5.3%] [33 males, 21 females]. The mean values of the blood characteristics of the normal, haemoglobinopathic and iron-deficient children were examined and compared