Is G-6-PD neonatal screening not enough?
The significance of G-6-PD neonatal screening cannot be overemphasized. However, in most endemic countries screening has been established for the last 20 years or so. Hence, though the young population is aware of this problem and can protect themselves, the older population is still exposed to this problem. This population is at even greater risk for obvious reasons. Firstly, unaware of the problem as they are, they have grown a feeling of security and they do not care to test for G-6-PD. Secondly, due to their age they develop health problems like hypertension or rheumatoid arthritis which are treated with drugs that are contraindicated for people with G-6-PD deficiency, like aspirin and Non Steroid Anti-inflammatory Drugs. This danger is much greater than initially anticipated because these drugs are meant for long term therapies. Thirdly, their organisms are not at their best and a small scale haemolysis can’t be counteracted. Last, but not least, usually these people are under mul
