Chennai

Would a child be born with Thalassemia if his/her parents are carriers?- Sanjana G, a resident of Rajakilpakkam

Thalassemia is an inherited (genetic) blood disorder in which the body makes a reduced quantity of haemoglobin. Would-be parents, who are carriers of the disease, are at a greater risk of having a child with Thalassemia Major, especially if they are married to another person who is also a carrier. A couple with Thalassemia trait, have 1 in 4 chances of having a child with Thalassemia Major even if they don’t show any symptoms themselves or have no family history.

- Dr Sheetal Sharda, Clinical Geneticist with MedGenome Labs

How should one treat a persistent cough? -Sujatha S, a resident of Purasawalkam

A majority of viral coughs are safe to treat at home, but you may need your General Practitioner’s help if it develops into a secondary chest infection. However, some persistent coughs aren’t viral at all. Anything still bashing away after three weeks needs investigating. Prolonged coughs can be a sign of anything from asthma and heartburn to more serious lung disease — especially in smokers who often wrongly assume their cough is just par for the course.

- Dr Balakrishnan K, General practitioner

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