First premarital screening of thalassaemia carriers in intermediate schools in Latium

Abstract

In the 1975 to 1976 school year, under the auspices of the Health Authorities of the Latium Region, the Rome Microcythemia Center carried out for the first time a partial screening survey of thalassemia carriers among the students of the compulsory intermediate school in Latium. This work was the beginning of a new preventive school health service aimed at the prophylaxis of Cooley's disease. In 23 places investigated in Latium, 17,724 students were examined, 13,354 of whom were in Rome and 4,370 elsewhere. The mean percentage of cooperation was 70% and the mean percentage of thalassemia 2.42%. Thalassemic students were invited to attend the center for a check-up along with their families: about half had already come in by the end of June 1976. All students examined, whether normal or thalassemic, have received written results of the tests. The screening survey aroused notable interest and obtained wide approval both at school and at home. The news of being thalassemia carriers, even if not welcome, was never the cause of family tragedy.