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November 2012
Favism as a Medical Condition
Favism is an inherited medical condition that causes sufferers to experience acute haemolytic anaemia when exposed to fava beans. Acute haemolytic anaemia is the breakdown of red blood cells, which carry oxygen throughout the body. When these cells break down too rapidly, the bone marrow cannot replace them quickly enough and the body is unable to get enough oxygen.
Symptoms experienced by people with favism vary with the severity of the illness. Mild symptoms may include fatigue, headache, fever, nausea, stomach pain and vomiting. Early signs of favism include dark orange urine, jaundice and feeling worn out over along period of time. If favism is untreated the person may slip into a coma and may require blood transfusion. In infants, young children and very severe cases, favism can be fatal. In addition to fava beans, people with this condition may also be affected by some medicines, including aspirin, anti-malarial drugs and antibiotics, and exposure to napthalene, the chemical in mothballs.
Favism is an inherited condition linked to the X chromosome. Although females may suffer from the disease, they are more often carriers and males are much more likely to become sick with favism. The condition is most common in people of Mediterranean and North African descent. People who inherit this condition do not have an enzyme called Glucose-6-Phosphate Dehydrogenase or G6PD. G6PD deficiency can be detected by a very simple blood test."
Please contact the coordinator@kastellorizo.com if you know of the condition or anyone who may be suffering from it.
Symptoms experienced by people with favism vary with the severity of the illness. Mild symptoms may include fatigue, headache, fever, nausea, stomach pain and vomiting. Early signs of favism include dark orange urine, jaundice and feeling worn out over along period of time. If favism is untreated the person may slip into a coma and may require blood transfusion. In infants, young children and very severe cases, favism can be fatal. In addition to fava beans, people with this condition may also be affected by some medicines, including aspirin, anti-malarial drugs and antibiotics, and exposure to napthalene, the chemical in mothballs.
Favism is an inherited condition linked to the X chromosome. Although females may suffer from the disease, they are more often carriers and males are much more likely to become sick with favism. The condition is most common in people of Mediterranean and North African descent. People who inherit this condition do not have an enzyme called Glucose-6-Phosphate Dehydrogenase or G6PD. G6PD deficiency can be detected by a very simple blood test."
Please contact the coordinator@kastellorizo.com if you know of the condition or anyone who may be suffering from it.