Glucose-6-Phosphate Dehydrogenase Deficiency among Children Attending the Emergency Department of Yankin Children’s Hospital, Yangon

Abstract

Yankin Children’s Hospital is one of the tertiary children hospitals in Myanmar, where some oxidative medications are commonly used in the management of illnesses. Paediatrician’s awareness of G6PD status in this population is very important for effective management and prevention of complications in G6PD deficient children. This preliminary study aims to determine the prevalence of G6PD deficiency according to WHO classification among children seeking medical care at Emergency Department of Yankin Children’s Hospital (YKCH). It was a cross-sectional descriptive study on 124 children, aged 1 month to 13 years. G6PD enzyme activity was determined by spectrophotometric assay within 24 hours of sample collection. Randox G6PD quantitative in vitro test kit (Randox Laboratories, Crumlin, UK) was used and G6PD activity was calculated as unit per gram (U/g) of haemoglobin (Hb). For classification of G6PD deficiency, 10% and 60% level of normal enzyme activities were calculated according to the suggestion by World Health Organization (WHO); G6PD activity <10% was defined as severe deficiency and 10-60% was defined as moderate deficiency. According to WHO classification, 18.5% (23/124) of children in this study was classified as G6PD deficient, with 3.2% severe deficiency and 15.3% moderate deficiency. The prevalence of G6PD deficiency in Myanmar children is higher than the previous reported prevalence if quantitative spectrophotometric method is used for diagnosis, detecting more individuals with moderate deficiency. The high prevalence of G6PD deficiency in this study warrants for the need to do neonatal screening to avoid the potentially fatal complications of this disease.