A Case Report of a Teaspoon Portion of Fava Beans Caused Severe Hemolysis in G6PD-Deficient Baby: Time to Include G6PD Enzyme Testing in the Premarital Screening Program and Newborns

Abstract

A 2-year-old baby of Arabian descent presented to the emergency department (ED) with signs of acute hemolytic anemia due to consuming a teaspoon portion of fava beans. Besides jaundice, nausea, vomiting, and fatigue, dark urine was the primary motive for the ED visit. The baby was diagnosed with glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency, which was adequately managed. Upon discharge, he was furnished with a nutritional and medical counseling plan to avoid the triggering factors of hemolysis. Hospital management of this and other cases imposes a high cost on health systems. One of the cost-effective measures to reduce that cost on health systems is to incorporate the G6PD enzyme test in newborns or premarital screening programs. Thus, the proposed measures would have eliminated the suffering of these innocent souls.

Keywords

• fava beans
• g6pd
• hemolysis
• premarital screening