Estimates suggest that approximately 1.5% of the global population (80 – 90 million people) are β-thalassemia carriers. However, exact data on carrier rates in many populations are lacking, particularly in developing areas of the world known or expected to be heavily affected. Because of the prevalence of the disease in countries with little knowledge of thalassemia, access to proper treatment and diagnosis can be difficult. While there are some diagnostic and treatment facilities in developing countries, in most cases these are not provided by government services and are available only to patients who can afford them. In general, poorer populations only have access to limited diagnostic facilities and blood transfusions. In some developing countries, there are virtually no facilities for diagnosis or management of thalassemia. Etymology and synonym
The word thalassemia () derives from the Greek  thalassa (θάλασσα), "sea", and New Latin -emia (from the Greek compound stem -aimia (-αιμία), from haima (αἷμα), "blood"). It was coined because the condition called "Mediterranean anemia" was first described in people of Mediterranean ethnicities. "Mediterranean anemia" was renamed thalassemia major once the genetics were better understood. The word thalassemia was first used in 1932.: 877

Society and culture
In 2008, in Spain, a baby was selectively implanted to be a cure for his brothers thalassemia. The child was born from an embryo screened to be free of the disease before implantation with in vitro fertilization. The babys supply of immunologically compatible cord blood was saved for transplantation to his brother. The transplantation was considered successful.
These treatments have resulted in longer life expectancy for those with thalassemia major.Deferoxamine is only effective as a daily injection, complicating its long-term use. However, it is inexpensive and safe. Adverse effects include primary skin reactions around the injection site and hearing loss.Deferasirox and deferiprone are both oral medications, whose common side effects include nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. Deferasirox is not effective for all patients and may not be suitable for those with significant cardiac issues related to iron overload, while deferiprone appears to be the most effective agent when the heart is involved. Furthermore, the cost of deferasirox is also significant.There is no evidence from randomized controlled trial to support zinc supplementation for those with thalassemia. Bone-marrow transplantation
Bone-marrow transplantation may offer the possibility of a cure in young people who have an HLA-matched donor. Success rates have reached the 80–90% range. Mortality from the procedure is about 3%. There are no randomized controlled trials that have tested the safety and efficacy of non-identical donor bone-marrow transplantation in persons with β- thalassemia who are dependent on blood transfusion.Graft-versus-host diseases (GvHD) are one relevant side effect of bone-marrow transplantation. Further research is necessary to evaluate whether mesenchymal stromal cells can be used as prophylaxis or treatment for GvHD.If the patient does not have an HLA-matched compatible donor, bone-marrow transplantation from haploidentical mother to child (mismatched donor) may be attempted. In a study of 31 people, the thalassemia-free survival rate was 70%, rejection 23% and mortality 7%. The most positive results tend to occur with very young people.