Fava bean disease is an acute hemolytic anemia that occurs after eating fava beans or fava bean sprouts in people with glucose hexaphosphate dehydrogenase deficiency. It is genetically related, 90% male, and is most common in children, especially those under 5 years of age. The onset of the disease is rapid and often occurs suddenly within a few hours to a few days after eating fava beans, manifesting symptoms such as dizziness, panic, fatigue, loss of appetite, diarrhea, fever, jaundice and anemia. In severe cases, there may be coma, convulsions, hemoglobinuria, or even shock, which may occasionally be fatal. The severity of the symptoms has nothing to do with how many fava beans are eaten.