Scurvy

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Scurvy is a disease. It is caused by not eating enough Vitamin C.

People who have scurvy get spots on their skin, especially the legs. Their teeth may become loose and fall out. They may bleed from the mouth, nose, and gums (mucous membranes). A person with scurvy will look pale. They will feel sad (see depression). They will not be able to move easily, because their joints hurt.

Historically, sailors used to get scurvy because fresh fruit could not be kept for as long as they were at sea. Today it is uncommon in the wealthy countries.

At first, a person may get these symptoms:

1. Not wanting to eat (loss of appetite)
2. Sadness (slight depression)
3. Losing weight or not gaining weight
4. Loose feces (diarrhea)
5. Breathing fast (tachypnea)
6. High body temperature (fever)

After a while, these symptoms might happen:

1. Anger (irritability)
2. Pain in the legs (and tenderness)
3. Hard to move (pseudoparalysis)
4. Swelling of the arms and legs
5. Bleeding from mouth, nose and gums

Causes:

1. Not eating enough Vitamin C (Inadequate intake)
2. Long sea voyages (historically)
3. Famines
4. Unhealthy diets (eating the wrong kinds of foods)
5. Ignorance (eg, boiling of fruit juices)
6. Neglect (can cause scurvy in babies if they are not cared for)

Treatment :

Medical Care:

Vitamin C administered by mouth or by needle (injection, also known as a shot). The injection almost always cures scurvy in babies.

Drinking orange juice is another treatment and works in babies. Before Vitamin C was discovered this was the only treatment.

When a person gets help for scurvy, they usually get better very quickly. Babies start eating again after one or two days of help. The symptoms get better within seven days.

Food

Eating vitamin C prevents scurvy. How much vitamin C a person needs depends on his or her age and is different for pregnant and lactating women. The following are the Food and Nutrition Board of the National Academy of Sciences, National Research Council's recommended amounts of vitamin C to eat every day:

Infants (Babies): 30-40 mg

Children and adults: 45-60 mg

Pregnant women: 70 mg

Lactating mothers: 90-95 mg

Foods with a lot of vitamin C include the following:

• Citrus fruits (for example: oranges, limes, grapefruits)

• Berries

• Cantaloupe

• Broccoli

• Cauliflower

• Cabbage

• Spinach

• Potatoes

• Tomatoes