Children with Thalassemia and Iron overload are at an increased risk for infection with?

- Iron therapy may increase the virulence of malaria and ceain, gram-negative bacteria, paicularly in developing countries. - Iron overload is associated with Yersinia infection. EXTRA EDGE: - Iron overload is treated by iron chelation therapy - IRON CHELATION THERAPY: Usually staed when serum ferritin > 1000 ng/ml Deferoxamine - Parenterally (IV or SC) - Effective in reveing hepatic & cardiac iron deposition. Deferiprone - 1st oral chelator. - Adverse effects - Agranulocytosis, GI side effects, ahritis Deferasirox - Oral drug, Effective in decreasing cardiac iron burden & lowering serum ferritin.