What is a carrier of thalassemia?

A carrier of thalassemia, often referred to as having thalassemia trait, is an individual who possesses one normal hemoglobin gene and one mutated gene associated with thalassemia. This genetic condition typically does not cause significant health issues, but carriers can pass the mutated gene to their offspring. If both parents are carriers, there is a risk of having children with more severe forms of thalassemia, which can lead to serious health complications. Testing for thalassemia carriers is important for family planning and genetic counseling.