Overview
Scurvy is a disease caused by a serious vitamin C deficiency.The key factor causing the condition is a lack of fruit and vegetable consumption. Scurvy, if left untreated, can cause bleeding gums, loose teeth, and skin bruising. Getting a lot of vitamin C in your diet is part of the treatment for the illness. There are other dietary supplements available.
Vitamin C plays a role in collagen, carnitine, hormone, and amino acid formation. It is essential for bone and blood vessel health and wound healing and facilitates recovery from burns. Vitamin C is also an antioxidant, supports immune function, and facilitates the absorption of iron (see table Sources, Functions, and Effects of Vitamins ).
What is vitamin C?
Ascorbic acid, also known as vitamin C, is a crucial mineral for your body. It is in charge of the growth, development, and repair of your bones, skin, and connective tissue. Moreover, vitamin C is necessary for the healthy operation of your blood vessels. Your teeth and gums can be maintained with vitamin C. Your body needs iron to produce red blood cells, and it helps your body absorb iron. The healing of burns and other wounds is aided by vitamin C.
As an antioxidant, vitamin C guards your cells from oxidative stress caused by free radicals. Free radicals are byproducts of regular cell activity that take part in cellular chemical reactions. Some of these reactions could harm your skin.
Causes
Ascorbic acid, also known as vitamin C, is a crucial mineral for your body. It is in charge of the growth, development, and repair of your bones, skin, and connective tissue. Moreover, vitamin C is necessary for the healthy operation of your blood vessels. Your teeth and gums can be maintained with vitamin C. Your body needs iron to produce red blood cells, and it helps your body absorb iron. The healing of burns and other wounds is aided by vitamin C.
As an antioxidant, vitamin C guards your cells from oxidative stress caused by free radicals. Free radicals are byproducts of regular cell activity that take part in cellular chemical reactions. Some of these reactions could harm your skin.
- Pregnancy.
- Breastfeeding (chestfeeding).
- Disorders that cause high fevers.
- Overactive thyroid gland (hyperthyroidism).
- Chronic diarrhea.
- Recent surgery.
- Burns.
- Tobacco usage.
Is scurvy contagious?
No, scurvy isn’t contagious. You can only get scurvy by having a severe vitamin C deficiency.
Symptoms
After a few months of not obtaining enough vitamin C in your diet, scurvy symptoms may start to appear. The initial signs may include joint discomfort, generalized weakness, weariness, and irritability.
If left untreated, more severe symptoms may start to develop. These may include:
- Anemia.
- Swollen, bleeding gums that may become purple and spongy.
- Loosened teeth that may fall out.
- Bleeding under your skin (skin hemorrhages). You may develop a “scurvy rash” that shows up as red or blue spots on your skin.
- Easily bruised skin.
- Rough, scaly skin.
- Swollen legs.
- Opening of previously healed wounds and new wounds that don’t heal.
- Dry, brittle hair that coils like a corkscrew.
In babies and children, symptoms of scurvy may include:
- Irritability.
- Pain when they move.
- No appetite.
- Failure to gain weight.
- Anemia.
Diagnosis
When a patient exhibits skin or gingival symptoms and is at risk of vitamin C insufficiency, the diagnosis of vitamin C deficiency is typically made clinically. There might be laboratory confirmation available. A full blood count is performed, frequently identifying anemia. Prothrombin timings, bleeding, and coagulation are all normal.
Yet, adult scurvy cannot be diagnosed with skeletal x-rays in children. The ends of lengthy bones, especially the knee, are where changes are most noticeable. Early alterations seem like atrophy. A ground-glass look occurs from the loss of trabeculae. Cortex thinning At the metaphysis, there may be a line of calcified, uneven cartilage (white line of Fraenkel). A triangular defect at the lateral margin of the bone may be the solitary sign of a linear fracture or a zone of rarefaction that is close to and parallel to the white line. Epiphysis compression is possible. The periosteum may rise and calcify as a result of healing subperiosteal hemorrhages.
Academic centers occasionally perform laboratory diagnosis, which entails testing blood ascorbic acid. Vitamin C deficiency is indicated by levels below 0.2 mg/dL (11 mcmol/L), whereas levels above 0.6 mg/dL (34 mcmol/L) are considered marginal. It is neither common or conventional to measure the amount of ascorbic acid in the white blood cell-platelet layer of centrifuged blood.
Scurvy needs to be distinguished in adults from conditions like arthritis, hemorrhagic diseases, gingivitis, and protein-energy undernutrition. Almost pathognomonic are hyperkeratotic hair follicles with surrounding hyperemia or hemorrhage. The majority of petechiae, ecchymoses, conjunctival hemorrhages, and bleeding gums are nonspecific.
Treatment
Nutritious diet with supplemental ascorbic acid
Ascorbic acid is administered to treat scurvy in adults. One plausible treatment plan involves taking 500 to 1000 mg once day orally for one to two weeks until symptoms go away, followed by a healthy diet that provides one to two times the daily recommended intake.
Therapeutic doses of ascorbic acid restore vitamin C’s functions in scurvy within a few days. In 1 to 2 weeks, the symptoms and signs normally go away. Long-lasting subcutaneous bleeding and chronic gingivitis.
How much vitamin C do I need?
The amount of vitamin C you need every day depends on your age and other factors. The average daily recommended amounts of vitamin C are:
| Age/Life Stage | Recommended Daily Amount |
|---|---|
| Birth to age 6 months | 40 mg |
| Infants ages 7 to 12 months | 50 mg |
| Children ages 1 to 3 years | 15 mg |
| Children ages 4 to 8 years | 25 mg |
| Children ages 9 to 13 years | 45 mg |
| Teenagers assigned male at birth (14 to 18 years old) | 75 mg |
| Teenagers assigned female at birth (14 to 18 years old) | 65 mg |
| Adults assigned male at birth (ages 19 years and up) | 90 mg |
| Adults assigned female at birth (ages 19 years and up) | 75 mg |
| Pregnant teenagers | 80 mg |
| Pregnant adults | 85 mg |
| Breastfeeding (chestfeeding) teenagers | 115 mg |
| Breastfeeding (chestfeeding) adults | 120 mg |
Prevention
You can prevent scurvy by getting the recommended daily allowance of vitamin C in your diet. The best sources of the nutrient are fresh fruits and vegetables. Good sources of vitamin C include:
- Citrus fruits.
- Tomatoes.
- Potatoes.
- Broccoli.
- Strawberries.
- Sweet peppers.
Speak to your healthcare provider before taking a vitamin C dietary supplement.