Scurvy: Vitamin C Deficiency, Symptoms & Treatment

Scurvy occurs due to Vitamin C deficiency and Ascorbic Acid deficiency in the human body. The structure of collagen gets imbalanced and the integrity and the bound of the tissue also gets disturbed due to the lack of Vitamin C in the human body. The incorporation of ascorbic acid with enzymes results in collagen. This reaction generates hydroxyproline which stabilizes the structure of collagen. If the deficiency of Vitamin C or Ascorbic acid continues for more than a month, then the symptoms of scurvy will show up.

Keywords: Scurvy, Vitamin C, Ascorbic Acid, Illness, Malnutrition, Collagen.

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Who can suffer from Scurvy? 

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People who are malnourished for more than a certain period of time can end up having scurvy. Institutionalized patients, chronic alcohol abuse, chronic illness are some severely malnourished situations that can attract this disease. The old people (above 65 years) or the people who are allergic to Vitamin C or have the dietary restrictions of intaking Vitamin C supplements and foods can also end up having scurvy. People with higher alcohol consumption, diabetes, inflammatory bowel disease, aids, lactose intolerant, pregnant women, and infants can also suffer from scurvy.

Scurvy Disease

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Symptoms of Scurvy

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Vitamin C plays a very important role in the human body. It results in the production, repair, and regeneration of blood, bone marrow, and several types of tissues available in our body. The symptoms of scurvy can appear within one to three months of the disease. Vitamin C also prevents various heart diseases and cancerous symptoms. Getting scurvy symptoms is not good for human health because if the same is not treated within the specified time then it can result in some serious kind of disease. 

Symptoms of Scurvy

The following symptoms can take place.

• Dental issues like gingivitis, bleeding gums, receding gums, dental caries.
• Connective tissue symptoms such as ecchymoses, petechiae, hemolytic anemia.
• Integumentary and Rheumatological symptoms such as impaired wound healing, follicle hyperkeratosis, coiled hairs, joint pain, perifollicular hemorrhage, Sjogren syndrome.
• Further systematic symptoms such as depression, fatigue, weakness, anorexia, neuropathy, hypotension.
• Weakness, weight loss, appetite loss are some of the early symptoms that should not be avoided.
• Some severe symptoms such as anemia, exhaustion, just being, blurred vision, sensitivity to light, shortness of breath coma, gastrointestinal bleeding, small red spots on the body.

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Stages of Scurvy Disease 

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1. Early Stage- If one is having simple fatigue, lethargy, and simple marks on their body, it means they are in the early stage of scurvy disease. These symptoms will appear within one to three months of the disease. The same can be easily treated at home simply by intaking 70 to 90MG of vitamin C per day along with sufficient vitamin C enriched food. Gradually the symptoms like anemia, bone pain, bruising, gum diseases, mood changes, and depression will appear by the end of three months if the same is not treated.

1. Mid-stage- Perifollicular Hemorrhages are quite common at the mid-stage along with certain bruising. Hydrostatic pressure is also felt at this stage. This is the time when doctors should be consulted and prescribed medicines should be preferred.

Mid Stage of Scurvy

1. Later Stage- This is where scurvy can become very serious and can become a threat to life. If the later stage is reached then Scurvy can also transform into serious jaundice, hemolysis, acute bleeding, convulsions, neuropathy, and even death.

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Diagnosis of Scurvy 

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If any of the above symptoms take place then one must diagnose first and take necessary precautions for the same. The possible diagnosis can be Low plasma and leukocyte Vitamin C levels.

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Treatment of Scurvy 

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If the result of the above diagnosis is positive, one can opt for the following treatments:

• Vitamin C supplementation- For children, it can be 100mg TID for 1 week and adults 300 to 1000mg daily for 1 month along with sufficient Vitamin C rich food. By intaking such, the symptoms like fever, pain, and fatigue can disappear in 24 to 48 hours but the other symptoms will take around 1 to 3 months to recover. Otherwise, other modes of prescribed treatments should be adopted.

Vitamin C food

• Diet- Apart from medicines a few dietary supplements can be fruits such as citrus fruit, tomatoes, strawberries. Vegetables like potatoes, Brussel sprouts, broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, and spinach. The effects of intaking such dietary supplements can reduce the symptoms in 3 months.

• If the supplements and the diet are followed for two to three months, chances of recovering increases.

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Things to Remember

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• Scurvy occurs due to Vitamin C deficiency and Ascorbic Acid deficiency in the human body. 
• Symptoms like anemia, bone pain, bruising, gum diseases, mood changes, and depression are common symptoms of Scurvy.
• Vitamin C intake should be as prescribed.
• If the treatment is properly taken, the recovery can start within 24 to 48 hours. 
• Minimum Vitamin C intake can be 10mg without the doctor’s prescription. 
• Nausea is again an early symptom of Scurvy.
• In kids, scurvy can stop bone growth and tooth disease.
• The skin color may change in the later stage of scurvy if not being treated properly and on time. 

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