Favism in Iraqi children

ABSTRACT

An epidemiologic, laboratory, and clinical study was conducted on a Hundred Iraqi children with an acute hemolytic episodes presenting after fava beans ingestion at the season of this food stuff. 82% of those patients were at the age group of 1-5 years. 70% are boys and 30% girls. 80% presented at the early season of the fava beans. 85% were symptomatic within 3days after eating the beans. Only 2% had a history of significant neonatal Jaundice. During the acute hemolysis, the Glucose-6-phosphaie dehydrogenase enzyme was deficient in a 60% of the patients and in 20% of their mothers. All of them had a negative sickle cell test. Almost all the patients presented with a severe hemolytic episode. The mean Hemoglobin value was 5.9 gram% and that of reticulocyte is 11%. 99% received blood transfusion. No patients had hemolysis because of me pollen inhalation. In a one year follow up no reported case of anemia. hemolysis or a significant infections among those children