Q & A: Henna & G6PD Deficiency
Your questions answered.
Your Question:
You have said that Henna (heena faih) can cause hemolysis in people with G6PD deficiency. What is your advice about applying Henna on boys’ hands and feet before circumcision? The Maldivian annual "circumcision season" is just around the corner!
My answer:
Yes, Henna has been identified as an agent that can cause acute hemolysis (sudden massive breakdown of blood cells) in people with G6PD deficiency. This has now been documented in medical literature and has also been noted to be one of the more common causes in the Maldives.
Based on my personal experience, G6PD deficiency is quite common in the Maldives. In this context, using Henna on boys (who are more likely to have G6PD deficiency than females) regardless of the occasion or festivity, is not a good practice.
My advice would be to stop the application of Henna as a routine practice especially in boys. The alternative would be to have the boys tested for G6PD deficiency before application of Henna with a view to avoid Henna if G6PD deficiency is found.
Please note that although rare, females can also have G6PD deficiency.
Your Question:
You have said that Henna (heena faih) can cause hemolysis in people with G6PD deficiency. What is your advice about applying Henna on boys’ hands and feet before circumcision? The Maldivian annual "circumcision season" is just around the corner!
My answer:
Yes, Henna has been identified as an agent that can cause acute hemolysis (sudden massive breakdown of blood cells) in people with G6PD deficiency. This has now been documented in medical literature and has also been noted to be one of the more common causes in the Maldives.
Based on my personal experience, G6PD deficiency is quite common in the Maldives. In this context, using Henna on boys (who are more likely to have G6PD deficiency than females) regardless of the occasion or festivity, is not a good practice.
My advice would be to stop the application of Henna as a routine practice especially in boys. The alternative would be to have the boys tested for G6PD deficiency before application of Henna with a view to avoid Henna if G6PD deficiency is found.
Please note that although rare, females can also have G6PD deficiency.
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