Scurvy Pictures

What is a scurvy?

It is a medical condition caused by vitamin C deficiency. Vitamin C is one of the essential vitamins as it is needed by the body to make collagen, a vital component of the connective tissues.



What the connective tissues do is they play a vital role for the structure and support of the body, especially the structures of the blood vessels. It is also responsible for iron absorption, metabolism of cholesterol, and other bodily functions.

When left untreated could lead to a variety of medical issues such as exhaustion, pain in the limbs and legs, anemia, swelling in some parts of the body, spontaneous bleeding, and formation of ulcers in the gums. In fact, it can even cause your tooth. ^{(1, 2, 3, and 4)}

Scurvy signs and symptoms

The symptoms of scurvy appear after eight to twelve weeks of being deficient from vitamin C. Cardinal signs and symptoms are as follows:

• Loss of appetite
• Weight loss
• Easy irritability
• Easily gets tired
• Lethargy
• Muscle and bone pain ⁽⁵⁾
• Anemia
• Noticeable edema or swelling
• Shortness of breath
• Small red spots secondary to bleeding underneath the skin (petechiae)
• Poor wound healing
• Corkscrew hair
• Gum-related issues and loss of a tooth ^{(3, 4)}

Who is at risk for scurvy?

The body cannot synthesize vitamin C. It should come from external sources. The rich sources of vitamin C are fruits and vegetables as well as foods fortified with vitamin C. People at risk for scurvy are the following:

• Those who are not fond of eating fruits and vegetables.
• Those suffering from anorexia and mental health-related conditions.
• Those with restrictive diet secondary to food allergy.
• Those who are chronically abusing alcoholic beverages and illegal drugs.
• Those who are already in their older age. ^{(4, 5, 6, and 7)}

Diagnosis

A physical exam and laboratory test will be done to find out the level of vitamin C in the body. An imaging study will also be ordered to determine the extent of the damage caused by scurvy.

Treatment

To supplement the body's need for vitamin C (ascorbic acid) and to eventually get rid of scurvy, the doctor will give the patient vitamin C supplements, which can be given via the oral route or through injection.

The dosage varies with the patient's age and general health condition. after 24 hours of treatment, the patient will notice a significant improvement on his condition. However, bleeding will be resolved in one to two weeks' time. ^{(6, 7, 8, and 9)}

What can you do to prevent scurvy?

You should increase your intake of vitamin C rich foods and supplement. Foods rich in vitamin C are oranges, berries, papaya, kiwi fruit, lemons, tomatoes, broccoli, cabbage, carrots, spinach, potatoes, and bell peppers. You can also take vitamin C supplement, especially if you are the type of person who does not like eating fruits and vegetables. ^{(5, 8, 9, and 10)}.

References

1. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/155758.php
2. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scurvy
3. https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/scurvy/
4. https://www.dermnetnz.org/topics/scurvy/
5. https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/healthyliving/scurvy
6. https://www.healthline.com/health/scurvy
7. https://rarediseases.info.nih.gov/diseases/10406/scurvy
8. https://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=11193
9. https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/125350-treatment
10. https://www.activebeat.com/your-health/8-signs-of-scurvy/