Scurvy, a potentially deadly medical disease caused by a lack of vitamin C, is uncommon in the modern era. Its symptoms may be mild, such as tiredness and easy bruising. Moreover, it is not usually among the first diagnosis investigated when a patient complains of these symptoms since it is rare.
It is hard to track because it is not common to check for vitamin C levels during regular blood tests. If your symptoms and medical history suggest that you may have scurvy, a blood test may confirm your vitamin deficiency. This condition is treated by replacing lost vitamin C with vitamin C-rich meals or a best vitamin C supplement.
What Are the Symptoms of Scurvy?
Scurvy symptoms usually appear gradually and intensify with time. They are often ambiguous, so it’s easy to look past the possibility of a nutritional deficiency. Fatigue and muscular discomfort, lack of appetite, stiff and swollen joints, spontaneous bleeding, and bruising are common scurvy signs. Symptoms may also include petechiae, gingivitis, gum ulceration, gum hypertrophy, tooth loss, impatience, and mood changes.
Scurvy is often associated with various nutritional deficits and other disorders, all of which may have consequences in addition to the symptoms of this illness.
What Causes Scurvy and How Does It Develop?
Scurvy was formerly thought to be a sickness that only affected sailors because nutrient-dense fruits were unavailable over long journeys at sea. Over one to three months, the vitamin C stored in your body depletes. These days, scurvy is no longer usually linked with lengthy periods at sea.
Vitamin C is required to produce collagen, a protein found in connective tissues such as skin, blood vessels, tendons, ligaments, bones, and cartilage. These tissues become brittle and feeble when collagen levels are low. 6 A collagen deficit, for example, causes blood vessel walls to weaken and leak, resulting in irregular bleeding and bruising.
How Is Scurvy Diagnosed?
Various diagnostic methods are used to diagnose scurvy, including medical history, physical examination, and a blood test. Due to the ambiguity of the symptoms, other more common diseases are often investigated before scurvy. Medical staff often consider infections, hemophilia, leukemia, idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura, or vasculitis before scurvy is on the table.
Blood Test
Unless there is a particular request, vitamin C blood levels are not routinely measured. If there is any doubt that your vitamin C level is the source of your symptoms, a blood level of vitamin C, also known as ascorbic acid, may be tested to confirm the diagnosis of scurvy. A normal vitamin C blood level is 0.6-2 mg/dL.
Diet History
A diet low in fresh fruits and vegetables, for example, broccoli, tomatoes, spinach, oranges, lemons, potatoes, and red peppers, may raise your risk of getting scurvy.
When diagnosed with scurvy, your doctor may look for other reasons. Your diet may cause a vitamin C shortage. If you consume enough vitamin C-rich foods, your condition might be caused by a gastrointestinal issue.
Treatment
Scurvy therapy is usually straightforward, including a daily vitamin C prescription for approximately a month or until your symptoms disappear. The typical vitamin C dietary guideline for children is 25-40 mg/day and 75-90 mg/day for adults.
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