Scurvy: hard to remember, easy to diagnose and treat

Purpuric rash on the lower legs

“…Fatigue, malaise, and infection are common5 and anaemia (typically normocytic) may occur in advanced stages 278. Vitamin C levels can be measured but are unreliable as they only reflect recent vitamin C intake rather than body stores 2910…”

“…The mainstay of management is immediate treatment with oral ascorbic acid, starting at a dose of 1 g daily in divided doses for one week then 300-500 mg daily, and continued until blood counts have normalised and poor dietary intake has been addressed 210…”

A Case Series of Scurvy Presenting as Bruising

“…Vitamin C is essential in collagen formation, leukocyte function and other enzymatic processes. Defects in collagen disrupt the integrity of hair, connective tissue, and blood vessels, leading to characteristic cutaneous manifestations of scurvy [ 1 ]. Scurvy is often considered a historic disease, associated with gingivitis, loose teeth and fatigue.…”

Scurvy in a Pediatric Patient Unable to Bear Weight: A Case Report

“…Symptoms begin to occur when total body stores drop below 300 mg. When clinically manifest, the classic constellation of symptoms is often immediately recognizable, including corkscrew hairs, perifollicular hemorrhage, easy bruising, intraarticular hemorrhage, bone changes, abnormal dentine production and loss of teeth, and gingival bleeding [ 4 ]. When seen in conjunction, any of these are highly indicative of vitamin C deficiency [ 4 ].…”

“…When clinically manifest, the classic constellation of symptoms is often immediately recognizable, including corkscrew hairs, perifollicular hemorrhage, easy bruising, intraarticular hemorrhage, bone changes, abnormal dentine production and loss of teeth, and gingival bleeding [ 4 ]. When seen in conjunction, any of these are highly indicative of vitamin C deficiency [ 4 ]. Left untreated, scurvy can be fatal, with case studies reporting causes of death including infection, intracerebral hemorrhage, and hemopericardium [ 5 ].…”