World Haemochromatosis Week, 1 to 7 June, aims to increase awareness of the health implications of what is Australia’s most common genetic disorder.
Haemochromatosis causes the body to absorb too much iron from food. This excess of iron overloads body tissues, damages organs and can cause premature death.
Even though haemochromatosis is carried by one in seven people and affects one in 200, it is often underdiagnosed because the symptoms of tiredness, muscle weakness and joint pain, are generic and non-specific.
There are simple measures which can be taken to detect and treat haemochromatosis.
Blood tests can identify individuals with existing iron overload; these individuals can then receive a genetic diagnosis through the MBS-listed HFE gene test and first-degree relatives notified for cascade screening.
The standard treatment for haemochromatosis is blood donation, and most individuals with a confirmed diagnosis of haemochromatosis are eligible for treatment through Australian Red Cross LifeBlood’s Therapeutic Donor program.
Haemochromatosis Australia (HA) provides a range of resources for health professionals on its website.
HA has worked with APNA on the development of an accredited online module Haemochromatosis for Nurses and with Reed Medical to develop free online learning modules accredited for CPD by RACGP and ACRRM. This module – Haemochromatosis: Preventing harm caused by iron overload with timely diagnosis and best practice management – is available on the ThinkGP platform.