This type of anemia leads to paleness, yellowing of the skin and jaundice, dark urine, fatigue, shortness of breath, and a rapid heart rate.
Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G-6-PD) deficiency is a genetic and sex-linked enzyme defect. It results in the crash of red blood cells when the person is exposed to sure drugs or the stress of infection. G-6-PD deficiency affects all races. In the United States, many more black than white people have the disorder. Approximately 10 - 14% of the black male population is affected. The disorder may infrequently affect a black woman to a mild degree (depending on their genetic inheritance). An estimated 400 million people worldwide have glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency.
