The Facts
Who it affects
Every ethnic group has a predisposition to certain genetic disorders.
For example thalassaemia is more common among those from Mediterranean
countries and sickle cell disease is more common among Africans. While
TSD can affect anyone, Ashkenazi Jews (Jews with Eastern European ancestry)
are much more likely to carry the faulty TSD gene.
- One in 25 Ashkenazi Jews carry the faulty gene for TSD.
- one in 300 in the general population carry the faulty gene for TSD.
- 1:2500 Ashkenazi Jewish babies born will die from TSD
- 1: 360 000 babies born in the general community will die from TSD
- Affected babies are 100 times more likely to be of Ashkenazi Jewish
decent.
The most common form of TSD is the classic form that affects infants.
However, there are other rarer forms. These other forms are less severe,
and may occur later in life, than classical infantile TSD.
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