Haemochromatosis Awareness Event in Marshes SC Dundalk and Lourdes Hospital Drogheda on June 5th

Haemochromatosis is an iron overload disorder.  It is a genetic condition that causes people to absorb excessive amounts of iron into the blood which overtime may lead to serious organ damage.  

To help raise awareness about this condition, HSE staff from the Haemochromatosis/Venesection Clinic at the Louth County Hospital will host information events at the Marshes Shopping Centre in Dundalk and Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda from 9am to 4pm on Thursday, 5^th June, 2014.

Staff nurses, Majella Jobling and Anna Capplis who will host the events said, “We would like to encourage members of the public to come along to either of these events where they can learn more about the condition, find out what are the symptoms to look out for and how the condition can be treated.”

Haemochromatosis is more common in Ireland than in any other country in the world and as many as one in 83 Irish people have the condition.  Those suffering from Haemochromatosis may have symptoms such as chronic fatigue, joint pain, diabetes, irregular heart beat, enlarged liver and loss of sex drive.  Anyone concerned that they may have the condition can ask their GP for a simple blood test to check their iron status and confirm whether or not they have iron overload.  

Treatment for the condition is simple and effective. It involves taking away excess iron from the body by venesection - the removal of blood, as is done for a blood donation. Treatment is ongoing for life and may require blood to be removed once or twice yearly depending on how quickly the iron is re-accumulating.

People living with this condition need to maintain a healthy, well-balanced diet with a reduced intake of red meat and should avoid foods fortified with iron, including some cereals and breads and avoid taking multi-vitamins/supplements containing iron or vitamin C.  As this is a genetic disorder, if someone is diagnosed, it would be important for their blood relatives to also be tested.   

The Haemochromatosis/Venesection Clinic at the Louth County Hospital provides a service to people in the Louth/Meath region.  Referrals are received from GPs who have patients with a confirmed genetic result for Haemochromatosis.  It is an appointment lead clinic facilitated by two staff nurses who monitor blood results and organise treatment/venesection as needed under the clinical guidance of Consultant Gastroenterologists Dr Sengupta and Dr Keohane.  The nurses provide ongoing education for the patients and their families regarding genetic screening of siblings and other family members and the importance of compliance with follow-up care and dietary requirements.

These events are being held to coincide with the Irish Haemochromatosis Association Awareness Day which takes place on 5^th June, 2014.  The Irish Haemochromatosis Association is a support group for people who have this condition and their families see www.haemochromatosis-ir.com for further information.