Favism: is an inherited medical condition, with

which the sufferer experience acute anemia when exposed to Faba beans. Even in ancient times, people, who live around the Mediterranean region, recognized that fava beans could cause illness in certain persons. When the faba plants blossomed in the spring, many historians noted that young men felt lethargic and tired. In the 19th and early 20th centuries, this problem was known as Baghdad Fever.

Symptoms of favism
People, who suffer from favism, experience acute hemolytic anemia, due to exposure to the fava beans.

Acute hemolytic anemia is characterized by the breakdown of red blood cells RBC that can carry oxygen throughout the body.
As these cells break down rapidly, the bone marrow cannot replace them quickly enough and as a result, the body will not get sufficient oxygen.

Symptoms of favism may vary with the severity of the illness. Fatigue, fever, headache, nausea, vomiting and stomach pain are the mild symptoms of favism.

Some early signs of favism include jaundice (yellow coloring of the skin), orange urine (presence of blood in the urine) and feeling worn out over a long period of time. If favism is not treated in time, the patient may slip into coma and may need blood transfusions.

 The amount of exposure to fava beans required to develop illness depends on the severity of the persons condition.

1. Eating fava beans is the most common trigger. 2. However, some people are very sensitive to fava beans and they react to the pollen of the plant. 3. Eating meat of an animal that consumes the beans may cause favism in certain people.

There are several cross-reactive agents as well, like some medicines including antibiotics and certain anti-malarial drugs and many types of broad beans.

Many people, who suffer from favism, become ill when exposed to the chemical in mothballs known as naphthalene.

Causes of favism:
Favism is an inherited condition that is linked to the X chromosome. Even though, women may suffer from favism, they are more often carriers and men are more likely to become sick with this disease. Favism is most common in people of North African descent and Mediterranean. However, people from the Middle East, South Asia and other African regions are also at risk.

Deficiency of an enzyme called Glucose-6-Phosphate Dehydrogenase or G6PD is a main cause of favism. It is the most common enzyme deficiency in the world, which affect over 400 million people. Favism may be quite dangerous. However, it can be easily detected and treated. Therefore, people, who experience any symptoms of favism, should seek the advice of a doctor immediately Favism can be fatal in infants and young children.

Treatment of favism:
A simple blood test can detect the deficiency of G6PD. Once favism is identified, avoiding the triggering foods and medicines are the most important treatment. People, who suffer from favism, should also be vaccinated as infections can cause an attack.
Blood transfusions may be necessary for acute attacks. Some people, who suffer from chronic severe reactions, may benefit from removal of the spleen (splenectomy) as much destruction of the red blood cells occurs in the spleen.

The anti-malarial benefits of favism You may feel strange, but favism has a good side also.
The region around the Mediterranean area contains abundant mosquitoes that carry malaria, a potentially deadly disease. Even today, more than 800 million people contract malaria every year and among those over 2 million die

But it is noted that, people with genetic mutation that triggers favism have an increased resistance to the most deadly form of malaria. The plasmodium, which causes malaria, infects the RBC. As favism breakdowns these cells, it also kills the plasmodium