These guidelines recommend that transfusion be reserved only for children with absolute haemoglobin (Hb) of ≤ 4 g/dL (profound anaemia) or haemoglobin of 4–5 g/dL plus respiratory distress in malaria endemic areas and a higher cut off of 7 g/dl in areas of low malaria transmission[19]. Here, GSTM1 is linked to malaria.