People with the disorder are not normally anemic and display no evidence of the disease until the red cells are exposed to an oxidant or stress . The risk of acute hemolytic crisis can be decreased by reviewing the family history for any evidence of hemolytic anemias or spherocytosis or testing before giving any medications belonging to the above class of chemicals. Risk factors are being of the black race, being male, or having a family history of G6PD deficiency. Another type of this disorder can occur in whites who originated in the Mediterranean basin. It, too, is associated with acute episodes of hemolysis.
Episodes are longer and more severe than the other type of disorders.
Genetic counseling or genetic information may be of interest to heterozygous women and affected men. People with the Mediterranean form or those in hemolytic crisis may occasionally require transfusions. Rarely, death may occur following a severe hemolytic event. Call your health care provider if you have G6PD deficiency and symptoms of hemolytic anemia do not disappear after treatment of the cause. The information provided herein should not be used for diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition.