Scurvy, an old disease caused by a lack of vitamin C and which had disappeared since the 20th century, is back in France, particularly since the Covid crisis. If cases are increasing among children, the increase in food insecurity and the effects of inflation are the main causes.
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It is a disease that is several centuries old and was thought to have disappeared since the 20th century. However, according to a recent British study published in December 2024, scurvy, a disease linked to vitamin C deficiency, has been on the rise in recent years in Franceespecially in children. According to this study published in the medical journal The Lancet and carried out by several hospital doctors and researchers from Inserm and Paris Cité University, nearly 900 children were hospitalized for cases of scurvy in France between January 2015 and November 2023. The largest increase in cases is recorded in the age category of five to ten years, particularly in precarious situations.
If the disease results from a deficiency in vitamin Cthe latter causes, among other things, bone pain, fatigue or even bleeding gums. In rare cases, it can lead to death. Formerly nicknamed “sailor’s disease”, it was particularly prevalent on board ships between the 16th and 19th centuries, where sailors deprived of fresh fruit and vegetables for long periods frequently suffered from it. It had been eradicated thanks to a modern diet rich in fruits and vegetables.
An alarming signal
Through their study, the researchers also demonstrated a correlation between scurvy and malnutrition in hospitalized children linked to a precarious situation. “ To do this, we compared the proportion of patients who had universal medical coverage, which is a criterion of precariousness. », explains pediatrician Ulrich Meinzer, coordinator of the study and pediatrician at the Robert-Debré hospital in Paris.
If the evolution of the number of cases remains relatively slow until 2019, scientists have noted a strong acceleration since the Covid-19 pandemic, leading to an increase in hospitalizations of 34.5%. “ The post-pandemic period has exacerbated food security vulnerabilities. In France, this has led to an increasing reliance on public and voluntary food aid. Inflation has worsened precariousness. This is one of the key factors in the reappearance of this disease » underlines the study.
Although scurvy is not as common as in the days of the great sea crossings, the increase in cases highlights problems of access to nutritious food in the face of the increase in consumption of ultra-processed foods and malnutrition. “ The Covid-19 pandemic, geopolitical, social and economic crises and wars around the world have caused high inflation. Families in precarious situations cannot, or no longer, buy products that provide sufficient vitamin C, such as vegetables or fruits. », explains to the New Obs Ulrich Meinzer.
Fight against food insecurity
Combating this increase is equivalent to ensuring children have a balanced diet. “ This means that you have to eat a balanced diet, so start with fresh foods and cook gently. It is recommended to eat five units of fruits and vegetables per day », adds Doctor Meinzer.
The authors of the study thus make several recommendations such as “ intensify food and social assistance programs » to reduce the rate of malnutrition and food insecurity, conduct similar studies in other high-income countries in order to have an overall vision of the problem or even conduct proactive screening of populations at risk.
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