Case: Thalassemia with severe anaemia with pericardial effusion

I was called in a clinic to see a girl of 5 years of consanguinous parents of Rohingya origin,the family staying in a Refugee camp in Tekhnaf, waiting for migration to Ireland.

The patient has growth failure(wt 10 kg),severe pallor, mild respiratory distress, malar prominence, huge hepatospenomegaly and intermittant fever of 22 days with no history of contact with tuberculosis. Clinically she also seems to have cardiomegaly, a soft systolic murmer, no basal creps and the liver was not tender.

Her investigation shows Hb-2.7 gm/dl, ESR-60, TC,DC-normal range. TT, Urine R/E is noram. Hb electrophoresis shows Hb-E Beta Thalassemia disease. X-ray has huge cardiomegaly-pear shaped with oligamic lung field, Echo shows gross pericardial effusion.




She was given two unit of blood, antibiotic and oral steroid. Fever was subsided after 7 days of traatment,Hb eleveated and respiratory distress subsided.

For pericardiocentesis and further evaluation he was refered to a cardiac centre. The delay takes place because of beaucratic complicacy of the sponsoring agencies.

badrud doza

Post script: The patient was untimately given antitubercular drug.