Thalassemia, originally known as Mediterranean anemia or thalassemia, was named due to the early discovered cases predominantly among the Mediterranean coastal populations. However, the disease is widespread in many regions around the world, with Southeast Asia being one of the high-prevalence areas. In China, it is more commonly seen in Guangdong, Guangxi, and Sichuan, and there are also scattered cases in the provinces and regions south of the Yangtze River, while it is less common in the north. It is caused by a hereditary defect in the globin gene, leading to the absence or insufficiency of one or more globin chains in hemoglobin, resulting in anemia. This pathological state is called thalassemia. Due to the complex diversity of genetic defects, the types and quantities of the missing globin chains, as well as clinical symptoms, can vary. Thus, thalassemia encompasses a group of diseases. Being a genetic disorder, Mediterranean anemia can be inherited by children.