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On the occasion of the world week against hemochromatosis, the Academy of Medicine and the National Order of Physicians alert on this disease, characterized by an iron overload in the organism of genetic origin. Because of non-specific symptoms, it is usually diagnosed around the age of 30.
From June 1 to 7, 2023 is World Hemochromatosis Week. On this occasion, the Academy of Medicine, associated with the National Order of Physicians, wishes to alert the youngest to this disease.
What is hemochromatosis?
Hemochromatosis is a condition caused by an overload of iron in the body, of genetic origin. It is a pathology that is usually discovered around the age of 30, with one subject in 200 affected.
Symptoms are fatigue, grayish complexion, impotence, joint pain, diabetes, certain hepatic signs such as hepatomegaly and moderate cytolysis. Sometimes, cardiac arrhythmias can also alter the patient’s quality of life and in the absence of treatment, the patient’s vital prognosis can be engaged.
Hemochromatosis is diagnosed with a simple blood test. Its treatment is “simple and effective” recall the Sages, it is bleeding, ie the extraction of blood in a pocket, to reduce the amount of iron present in the body.
The Academy of Medicine therefore wishes to alert as many people as possible to the signs and symptoms of this frequent disease, because the diagnosis “comes up against the often not very evocative character of the clinical signs of appeal which, moreover, can present themselves in an isolated way or variously associated“, and recommends consulting your doctor if in doubt.