Favism is a dramatic event, although no age group is spared, it is most often observed in children. Favism occurs as the result of intolerance to the consumption of fava beans or the inhalation of pollen from the Vicia faba plant.
A few hours after ingesting fava beans, the child may become fractious and irritable or subdued and even lethargic.
Within 24 to 48 hours, fever may develop (up to 38 ° C) and this may be associated with nausea, abdominal pain, and diarrhea and rarely with vomiting.
In rare and severe cases, hemoglobinuria, jaundice and renal failure can occur. Hemoglobinuria appears within 5 to 30 hours following exposure to the bean and jaundice observed a few hours later.
Individuals with an inherited deficiency of the enzyme, glucose-6-phospahte dehydrogenase (G6PDH), in their red blood cells are susceptible to favism.
G6PD deficiency is one of the most common genetic polymorphisms in the human population: over 400 variants have ben described and an estimated 200 million people are affected worldwide.
What is favism?
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