Scurvy is a fatal disease but it is very treatable and has almost disappeared today. It can cause skin symptoms and even loosening of the teeth. The cause ? Vitamin C deficiency. Who is still at risk of scurvy? How to diagnose it?
Scurvy, long referred to as “sailors disease” is virtually eradicated today. It is caused by vitamin C deficiency. People with anorexia or alcoholism may still be at risk. Scurvy is manifested by various symptoms such as fatigue, muscle aches, skin rashes andt can cause a loosening of teeth. What is scurvy? How to diagnose scurvy? Is there a risk of contagion?
Definition: what is scurvy?
Scurvy is a very old disease, found on ships and in prisonscaused by a vitamin C deficiency (ascorbic acid). If it is completely eradicated today since the cause has been identified, it happens that it is found in people with significant nutritional deficiencies. “The recommended daily dose of vitamin C is 110 mg“explains Dr. Romain Troalen, general practitioner. “Our vitamin C levels vary depending on what we ingest. But we can say that the symptoms of scurvy appear after 1 to 3 months of total deficiency. Experimentally, we know that it appears when ascorbemia (the level of ascorbic acid in the blood) is less than 2 or 2.5 mg/L“. Nevertheless, the High Authority for Health (HAS) recommends no longer perform the vitamin C assay, unless there is a clear clinical suspicion, “Indeed, this assay is not always very reliable”confirms the doctor.
What causes scurvy?
Scurvy is linked to a deep and lasting vitamin C deficiency. The disease can therefore appear in populations who do not consume any fruit or vegetable, sources of this vitamin not synthesized by the body and therefore necessarily provided by food. “It can also occur in anorexic people, major alcoholics or in the elderly with a monotonous diet, little diversified and which boils the food (which makes all the vitamins disappear)”, says the doctor. “People with intestinal absorption disorders who have difficulty absorbing vitamins may also be affected.” If not cared for, scurvy is deadly : Indeed, the symptoms affect the whole body. They are due to the deficit of the functions brought by vitamin C which intervenes in the structure of the blood vessels, the immunity for the defense of the organism, the healing among others.
What are the symptoms of scurvy?
Initially, a vitamin C deficiency causes a impaired collagen synthesis (protein used as a structure in the body, such as blood capillaries for example). This therefore leads to healing delays and disorders, until bleeding. There are three phases of the disease:
► It starts with fatiguea anorexia (loss of hunger), a depression, joint pain (knees, hips, shoulders), myalgia (muscle pain) and edema lower limbs. “But these symptoms are very common and can be related to many diseases: the diagnosis is therefore difficult”, says Dr. Troalen.
► The state phase is the one during which the characteristics of the disease can be recognized. There are skin manifestations hemorrhagic and stomatological. The most common rash is petechial purpura (a rash of red dots that don’t go away when pressed). It focuses on the hair follicles (base of the hair), especially in the legs and trunk. Then there are bruises (bruises) on all the bodies, then deep hematomas (intramuscular for example). The patient can bleed from everywhere: muscles, intestines, eyes etc. On the side of the mouth: the gums bleed, swell, and the teeth can take off.
► During the terminal phase, there is an aggravation of all the symptoms, and a drop in immune defences. A wound can reopen, even after several years. Patients may die from multiple hemorrhages, heart damage, or a small infection that gets worse (due to the drop in immune defences).
Is scurvy contagious?
scurvy is not a contagious disease since it is not an infection.
To diagnose scurvy, the doctor will perform a questioning which will focus on the medical history of the patient as well as on his eating habits and lifestyle. To confirm scurvy and therefore vitamin C deficiency, a blood test is prescribed.
“Scurvy, if it can kill, is cured very quickly”, indicates the doctor. “All you need is a vitamin C supplement, 500 mg per day is sufficient. In a few days, it’s healed.” Of course, if the disease has reached an advanced stage, important symptoms such as organ damage will be cured thanks to targeted treatments. A nutritional follow-up can be proposed, provided by a dietician or a nutritionist.
What are the foods to avoid scurvy?
A normal and varied diet does not entail any risk of scurvy. There is no need to worry about this disease if one has a normal, balanced diet rich in fruits and vegetables.
To prevent scurvy, just consume vitamin C daily. The recommended dose is around 110mg per day.
Thanks to Doctor Romain Troalen, general practitioner.