There are two main types of thalassaemia carriers: Alpha Thalassaemia and Beta Thalassaemia. Beta thalassaemia carriers are also known as 'beta thalassaemia trait'. Most people who are beta thalassaemia carriers do not know that they have it, they have smaller red blood cells than usual. The fact that beta thalassaemia carriers have unusually small red blood cells does not matter. However, this is sometimes mistaken for iron deficiency anaemia, and iron is prescribed. Thalassaemia carriers should not take iron tablets unless they need to. A carrier of alpha thalassaemia or beta thalassaemia is a healthy person. If you are born with alpha thalassaemia trait or beta thalassaemia trait you will always carry it. Having the trait is not an illness and this will not develop into the disorder. You cannot catch the disorder and it is not infectious. You do not need any medical treatment because you are a carrier of alpha thalassaemia trait or beta thalassaemia trait. In some people they may find they have anaemia which means having less blood (less haemoglobin) than usual. Some women who are carriers of beta thalassaemia have a mild anaemia this has nothing to do with the amount of iron they are getting from their food. This rarely causes ill health, and cannot be changed by treatment with iron tablets or other medicines. Being a carrier of alpha thalassaemia or beta thalassaemia does not prevent you from doing any job you want.