Does eating fava beans harm children with G6PD deficiency?

Author: Not specified

Reviewer: Not specified

Curator: Not specified

Production/Organizational Information: Not specified

Title: Does eating fava beans harm children with G6PD deficiency?

Introduction: G6PD deficiency can cause hemolytic reactions in children from fava beans. New parents get care tips to protect their child's health.

Keywords: ['Child Health', 'Disease Popular Science']

Many new parents feel anxious when they first hear about G6PD deficiency: "What disease is this?" "Will the baby have a lifelong disability?" "Why does eating fava beans or taking certain medications cause jaundice and hemolysis?" In fact, G6PD deficiency, commonly known as favism, is the most prevalent hereditary erythrocyte enzyme defect disorder, with a high incidence in southern China. It is not a terminal illness or an incurable disease. As long as the triggers are avoided and proper care is followed, the baby can grow up to be just as healthy as any other child.

01 A Comprehensive Understanding of G6PD Deficiency: Professional, Easy to Understand, and Practical. G6PD deficiency refers to an inadequate level of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) in red blood cells, which is a genetic condition. G6PD is an enzyme responsible for protecting red blood cells from oxidative damage. A deficiency of this enzyme can lead to the rupture of red blood cells under specific stresses such as certain foods, medications, or infections, resulting in hemolytic anemia. This condition is typically inherited from parents, particularly prevalent among certain ethnic groups, including those from the Mediterranean region, parts of Africa, and Asia. Common symptoms include fatigue, jaundice, and palpitations. Treatment mainly involves avoiding trigger factors and providing symptomatic care as needed.

G6PD stands for glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase. It is known as the "protective enzyme" of red blood cells, responsible for providing them with "antioxidant protection and damage prevention." When a baby is born with a deficiency in this enzyme, it makes their red blood cells particularly fragile. Encountering triggers such as fava beans, certain medications, camphor balls, and infections can cause the red blood cells to rupture in large quantities, leading to acute hemolysis, worsening jaundice, anemia, and brown urine. This summarizes G6PD deficiency.

02 The Three Most Common Manifestations. After birth, jaundice can be particularly severe and resolves slowly. Hemolysis causes an increase in bilirubin levels, which is the most common initial symptom observed in neonatology. Another manifestation includes darkening of urine, resembling the color of strong tea or soy sauce. This is an acute hemolysis alert and requires immediate medical attention. A third symptom may include mental deficiency, poor appetite, and pallor, as significant destruction of red blood cells can lead to anemia and hypoxia.

03 What Things Should Absolutely Not Be Touched? 1. Absolutely Prohibited Food - Fava beans and fava bean products (such as fava bean flour, fava bean cake, douban pastry, etc.). 2. Absolutely Contraindicated Medications (high risk for neonates/children) - Antipyretic and analgesic drugs: Aspirin, some combination cold medicines. Antibiotics: Sulfonamides, nitrofurans, chloramphenicol, etc. Antimalarial drugs. 3. Absolutely Prohibited Items - Camphor balls and remedies, herbs, and topical ointments with unidentified ingredients. 4. Be cautious of infections (as infections can also trigger hemolysis), including severe cold, pneumonia, gastroenteritis, and sepsis. Save the table below for future reference.

Note: The content of the image is referenced from the expert consensus on screening, diagnosis, and treatment of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency in newborns, Chinese Journal of Pediatrics, 2017, 55(06): 411-414. Warm reminder: When taking your child to see a doctor, parents must first inform the doctor that the child has G6PD deficiency!

04 What Should Parents Do? 1. Routine screening at birth: Heel blood can be used to screen for G6PD activity, enabling early detection and prevention. 2. Establish a "Taboo Card": When discharged, ask the doctor to provide a list of contraindications for G6PD deficiency to carry with you. 3. Key Monitoring of Jaundice: Babies with this deficiency are more susceptible to severe hyperbilirubinemia, so it is essential to take precautions against bilirubin encephalopathy. 4. Do not take medications without proper authorization and do not casually use folk remedies. 5. Normal feeding and vaccination are not affected by G6PD deficiency; there is no need to postpone or refuse vaccinations.

05 The Most Crucial Question: Is the Prognosis Good? Very good! As long as there is no contact with trigger factors, the illness will almost never occur. Growth and development, intelligence, physical activity, learning, and normal work and reproduction in adulthood can be achieved. The only thing needed is to always remember 'I am a G6PD deficiency patient.'

06 Summary 1. G6PD deficiency, which refers to insufficient levels of the protective enzyme in red blood cells, is a genetic disorder, not an infectious disease. The greatest fears stem from fava beans, camphor, oxidative drugs, and severe infections. 3. If a newborn presents with severe jaundice and dark urine resembling strong tea, seek medical attention immediately. Avoid triggers and live a healthy life to remain completely normal. 5. Medical Visit Declaration: My baby has G6PD deficiency! G6PD deficiency serves as 'a small reminder for a safe life,' rather than a 'lifetime illness.' With scientific understanding and standardized care, every G6PD deficient baby can lead a sunny, healthy, and fulfilling life.

Note: Except for the images that have been annotated above, all other images are created by Doubao AI.