The identification and the precocious information addressed to the young thalassaemic subjects, hence since the adolescence, are essential appearances for a correct preventive strategy. This strategy represents a way to avoid the birth of affected children allowing the young interested subjects to choose of procreating with a no thalassaemic one. However, this plan directed toward a precocious identification and a correct information of the β thal carriers is always advantageous, also in the case in which a couple at risk decides of having children. The couple, already examined before the pregnancy, can avoid the risk of discovering the illness of the foetus too late, that is when any prevention is no more possible and also they have the possibility of facing their voluntary choice.

It is also very important in achieving the goals of prevention, that the thalassaemic exam is executed in special centers able to perform the DNA study when necessary and also to reach a reliable diagnosis and a specific medical counselling.

Finally, the couples at risk must be well informed regarding the possibility of having only a 1 in 4 chance (25%) that their children could be affected by the Mediterranean anaemia. But they must be informed also that in the families the situations is different: in fact sick children are born at random and the only valid rule is that for each pregnancy there are 25% probabilities on 100 a sick child is born, even if they already have other healthy ch ildren.