Introduction
Scurvy is a disease caused by prolonged severe dietary deficiency of ascorbic acid, in which the breakdown of intercellular cement substances leads to capillary haemorrhages and defective growth of fibroblasts, osteoblasts, and odontoblasts results in impaired synthesis of collagen, osteoid, and dentine. It is characterized by haemorrhagic gingivitis affecting especially the interdental papillae (in the absence of teeth, the gums are normal), subperiosteal haemorrhages, bone lesions (including the corner fraction sign, a ground-glass appearance, and trabecular atrophy) seen on radiography, perifollicular haemorrhages, and frequently petechial haemorrhages (especially on the feet). Sudden death may occur as a result of cerebral or myocardial haemorrhage.
Haemorrhagic gingivitis
Corkscrew hair
Bruised skin
History of Scurvey
The first written account of a disease likely to be scurvy comes from the Ebers papyrus which has been dated to 1500 BC Egypt. The Ebers papyrus not only diagnosed scurvy, but prescribed that victims of scurvy be treated with onions, a common source of vitamin C. Ancient Greece also recorded instances of scurvy.
Hippocrates, Father of Medicine, wrote that individuals with scurvy “have foetid breath, lax gums, and h[e]mmorrhage from the nose.” Unlike the Egyptians, Hippocrates unnamed cure was likely ineffective as it required “a tedious cure that often ‘accompanied a patient to his death’”.
Apart from Hippocrates, however, there is little documentation of incidences of scurvy or its medical treatments in the ancient world. English surgeon, James Lind, who wrote one of the first comprehensive treaties on scurvy, noted that ancient Greek, Roman and Arab authors and scientists were almost completely silent on the issue of scurvy.
Epidemiology
The epidemiology of scurvy in the modern era is poorly described. Outside of infrequent epidemics, scurvy is thought to be rare. No outbreaks of adult scurvy have been reported in North America in many years and the last western infantile scurvy epidemic ended in the 1960s.
Scurvy is a problem when general malnutrition exists, as in some impoverished, underdeveloped third world countries. Scurvy also occurs in epidemic proportions in international refugee camps and in populations that subsist mainly on cereal grains.
Data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES 2003-2004) that assessed the prevalence of vitamin C deficiency in the United States among a sample of 7277 children and adults (older than age 6 y) found that men aged 20-39 and those older than 60 years had a higher prevalence of deficiency than similarly aged women. Overall, 8.2 of men and 6 of women were deficient in vitamin C, which is decreased from the NHANES 1994, which showed 14% of men and 10% of women deficient
Causes and risk factors
The main cause is an insufficient intake of vitamin C, or ascorbic acid (Vitamin C). Humans cannot synthesize vitamin C. It needs to come from external sources, especially fruits and vegetables, or fortified foods.
- A deficiency may result from:
- A poor diet lacking in fresh fruits and vegetables, possibly due to low income or famine
- Illnesses such as anorexia and other mental health issues
- Restrictive diets, due to allergies, difficulty orally ingesting foods, or other reasons
- Older age
- Being bottle fed (infants) with cow’s milk without adequate supplementation
- Pregnancy
- You are addicted to drugs (drug abuse)
- Excessive consumption of alcohol or use of illegal drugs
- Late or unsuccessful weaning of infants can also lead to scurvy.
- Conditions, treatments, or habits that reduce the body’s ability to absorb nutrients, such as Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, chemotherapy, and smoking, increase the risk.
Symptoms and signs associated with scurvy
The following symptoms may occur:
- Early symptoms of malaise and lethargy.
- Shortness of breath, arthralgia and myalgia develop after several months.
- Skin changes include easy bruising, petechiae and poor wound healing.
- Gum disease and loosening of teeth are common.
- Emotional changes, including irritability, can be apparent.
- Dry mouth and dry eyes may occur.
- In the later stages, jaundice, generalised oedema and heart failure, haemopericardium, neuropathy, convulsions and sudden death may occur.
The following signs may be present:
- Skin changes can include perifollicular hyperkeratotic papules, perifollicular haemorrhages, purpura and ecchymoses. These are seen most commonly on the legs and buttocks. There may be poor wound healing and breakdown of old scars. Alopecia may occur.
- In the nails, splinter haemorrhages may occur.
- Gums can bleed and become swollen, friable and infected; petechiae can occur on the mucosae.
- Conjunctival haemorrhage, flame-shaped haemorrhages and cotton-wool spots may be seen. Bleeding into the periorbital area, eyelids and retro bulbar space may occur.
- A scorbutic rosary (where the sternum sinks inwards at the costochondral junctions) may occur in children.
- High-output heart failure due to anemia can be seen and hypotension may occur late in the disease.
- Fractures, dislocations, tenderness of bones and bleeding into muscles and joints are possible.
- Synovitis with joint effusion can occur.
- Oedema may occur late in the disease.
- Loss of weight secondary to anorexia is common
What are the potential complications of scurvy?
If you are diagnosed with scurvy, you can help minimize your risk of serious complications by carefully following the treatment plan you and your health care provider design specifically for you. Complications of scurvy include:
- Anemia and its consequences, which include shortness of breath and rapid heart rate (tachycardia)
- Easy bruising
- Increased incidence of infections
- Joint pain and discomfort
- Reduced ability for wound healing
Diagnosis and testing of scurvey
The diagnosis of scurvy is considered a “clinical diagnosis,” which means that the condition should be diagnosable based on the classic signs and symptoms combined with a history of poor nutrition.
Medical History
Detailed questions about diet and eating habits along with information about a person’s socioeconomic status and living situation help identify risk factors for nutritional deficiency.
Physical Exam
The physical exam would show signs of easy bleeding in the skin (bruising, petechiae) and gums (redness, swelling and even loose teeth or loss of teeth). Bleeding and bruises, however, are nonspecific, meaning they can be caused by a number of disorders. The most specific sign of scurvy is the presence of bleeding around hair follicles with the “corkscrew hairs” growing from affected follicles.
Differential Diagnosis
Because scurvy is unusual, doctors may think the signs and symptoms are due to other, more common causes such as the following:
- Trauma (bruising)
- Blood clotting disorders (bleeding, bruising)
- Cancer (easy bruising, fatigue, weakness)
- Heart or lung problems (shortness of breath)
- Platelet count (bleeding)
Laboratory Tests and Studies
The following are some of the tests and studies doctors may order as part of the diagnosis, with the expected results if the person has scurvy:
Complete blood count (CBC)
The CBC may show low numbers of red blood cells (anemia) due to blood loss, but other blood cells levels would be normal
Clotting times
Because easy bleeding can be a sign of clotting problems, doctors may test the blood to see how long it takes to clot. In scurvy, clotting times are normal.
Skeletal x rays
X rays may show bone changes in the tibia (shin bone) in adults, or changes at the ends of long bones, such as bone thinning and irregular cartilage, in children.
Vitamin C levels
Blood levels of ascorbic acid (vitamin C) less than 1.2 mg/dL indicate vitamin C deficiency.
Skin biopsy
In scurvy, a small sample of the skin in the area of an affected follicle (with pinpoint bleeding and coarse hair) would show irregularly shaped hair follicles with thickened edges and coiled, irregular hair shafts when examined under a microscope.
Evidence of malnutrition, signs and symptoms of easy bleeding, a low blood level of vitamin C strongly support the diagnosis of scurvy. However, ultimately the best confirmation of the diagnosis is whether or not the symptoms improve with vitamin C treatment.
Treatments for scurvy
Treatment of scurvy involves intake of vitamin C rich citrus fruits, vegetables and vitamin C supplements. The medication regime for scurvy affected person is usually as follows.
- The treatment involves intake of vitamin C at the rate of 100 mg 5-6 times daily for about 8-10 days followed by reducing the dosage gradually to 100 mg daily till all symptoms resolve.
- Alternatively one gram of ascorbic acid per day is given in split doses for about 4-5 days followed by 400-500 mg/day in split doses for 7 days. Then the dose is reduced gradually to 100 mg per day.
- For infants 50 mg/day of ascorbic acid must be given till complete recovery.
- The doses have to be divided and restricted to 100 mg at one time as absorption in the intestine is limited.
- Patients with gastrointestinal malabsorption problems may require administration of supplements through parenteral route.
- The patient must be given fruits and vegetables rich in vitamin C during and after the course of treatment to avoid recurrence.
- If neglected this disease is usually fatal.
Home Remedies for Scurvy
Along with the vitamin C supplements and dosage, regular diet must also include –
- Fruits like oranges, limes, lemons, grapefruits, kiwifruits, mangoes, blackcurrants and strawberries are useful home remedy for Scurvy
- Vegetables like tomatoes, green peppers, spinach, broccoli and cabbage.
Prevention
People who develop scurvy often have a diet that lacks variety and does not include foods that are rich in vitamin C. Fresh fruits and vegetables are rich in vitamin C, so a balanced diet that includes fresh produce provides the best prevention against scurvy.
Sources of Vitamin C
The following foods are some of the best natural sources of vitamin C:
- Citrus fruits: oranges, lemons, limes, grapefruit
- Sweet peppers (red, green)
- Kiwi fruit
- Strawberries
- Brussel Sprouts
- Tomatoes
- Cantaloupe
- Broccoli
- Asparagus
- Cabbage
- Sweet potatoes
Because vitamin C is destroyed with heat, you get the most vitamin C when you eat these fruits and vegetables raw, not cooked.
Recommended Daily Allowances (RDA) from National Institutes of Health Office of Dietary Supplements
The amount of vitamin C needed each day is different for different groups of people:
- Babies (0-6 months): 40mg
- Babies (7-12 months): 50mg
- Children (1-3 years): 15 mg
- Children (4-8 years): 25 mg
- Preteens (9-13 years): 45 mg
- Adolescents (14 -18 years): 65-75 mg
- Adults (19+ years): 75-90 mg
- Pregnant women: 80-85mg
- Breastfeeding mothers: 115-120 mg
For perspective, one half-cup of raw red pepper contains 95 mg of vitamin C, providing more than 100% of the average adult’s RDA, and one medium orange contains 70 mg. Symptoms of scurvy occur when vitamin C intake falls below around 10 mg/day over a period of several weeks. Exceeding the RDA for vitamin C is not harmful, aside from digestive upset related to eating large quantities of fruit or produce such as diarrhea or gas.