What is Favism

Favism is a type of inherited anemia that is caused due to the allergy to beans. It is the deficiency of G6PD i.e. Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase. It is a medical condition in which the patient suffers from acute anemia when exposed to fava beans. It generally affects the people in Africa, Southeast Asia or the Mediterranean. It is developed only in those people who get it genetically. People suffering from this disease do not have enough G6PD in red blood cells. It can cause the condition of hemolysis which is the breakdown of the enzyme-deficient blood cells. The deficiency of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase causes the production of a substance that in turn causes the breakdown of red blood cells and that is what called as the condition of hemolysis or hemolytic anemia.

Males are more prone to this disease than women as it is related to X chromosome. If you will eat even very little amount of fava beans then it can cause attack. Attack can cause the patient to feel headache, dizziness, fever, vomiting and diarrhea. The person can also feel abdominal pain. He may also feel tiredness all the time. The skin gets yellow tone and the blood from the destroyed blood cells can be found in urine. It can result into jaundice and it can even lead to coma too. If not treated on time, it can cause severe results. Certain medicines can also cause favism. People with this problem should consult with their doctor as soon as possible. The people who think that they are suffering from the above mentioned symptoms, they should get themselves checked.

A simple blood exam can tell you whether you are allergic to beans or not. If anyone from your family has favism, then do get urself examined as the people who got favism in their family have more risk of developing favism. If you know that you are allergic to beans and you have favism, then you must tell this to your doctor before starting any medication. It will help him to decide which medicines he should prescribe you and which not. The best way to prevent this condition is to avoid fava beans. So if you know that you are allergic to beans then avoid that food. Some severe cases may require blood transfusion. It can lead to death too, so proper treatment on the right time is very important. Though it is a dangerous disease but if detected early, it can be treated properly.

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