Bone Marrow Transplant for Pediatric Blood Disorders – What Parents Should Know

Bone Marrow Transplant (BMT), also known as Stem Cell Transplant, is a life-saving treatment for several pediatric blood disorders such as leukemia, lymphoma, thalassemia, and aplastic anemia. Many parents feel overwhelmed when doctors suggest a transplant for their child.

This blog explains what parents need to know about bone marrow transplant in children.

1. What is a Bone Marrow Transplant?

• Bone marrow is the soft tissue inside bones that produces blood cells.
• In some blood disorders, the bone marrow fails to function properly.
• BMT replaces unhealthy marrow with healthy stem cells, allowing new, normal blood cells to grow.

2. Which Conditions Require Bone Marrow Transplant?

• Leukemia and Lymphoma (Cancers of the blood and lymph system).

• Thalassemia Major and Sickle Cell Disease.

• Aplastic Anemia (Bone marrow failure).

• Severe Immunodeficiency Disorders.
  

3. Types of Bone Marrow Transplant

• Allogeneic Transplant – stem cells from a donor (usually a sibling or matched unrelated donor).

   

• Autologous Transplant – child’s own stem cells, used in certain cancers.
  

4. How is the Transplant Process Done?

• Pre-transplant evaluation and tests.

• High-dose chemotherapy to destroy diseased marrow.

• Infusion of healthy stem cells.

• Monitoring and recovery in a sterile environment.
  

5. Risks and Challenges of BMT

• Infections (due to weak immunity post-transplant).
• Graft-versus-host disease (in donor transplants).
• High treatment costs.
  

6. Success Rate and Long-Term Outlook

• With advanced technology, success rates are improving.
• Many children resume normal schooling and daily activities after recovery.

7. Cost of Bone Marrow Transplant in India

• On average, a transplant may cost ₹15–25 lakhs.
  
• For underprivileged families, financial aid and schemes are available through charitable trusts and NGOs.

Why Choose Dr. Shraddha Chandak?

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