Favism (Noun)
Meaning
Anemia resulting from eating fava beans; victims have an inherited blood abnormality and enzyme deficiency.
Classification
Nouns denoting natural processes.
Examples
- Favism is a rare but potentially life-threatening condition that affects individuals with a specific genetic mutation when they consume fava beans.
- The patient was diagnosed with favism after experiencing severe anemia and jaundice following a meal of fava bean soup.
- In some Mediterranean countries, favism is a significant public health concern due to the high prevalence of the underlying genetic disorder.
- Favism is often misdiagnosed as other forms of anemia, leading to delayed treatment and increased risk of complications.
- The enzyme deficiency associated with favism makes it difficult for the body to break down certain compounds in fava beans, leading to a toxic buildup of oxidants.