A disease that killed millions of sailors between the 16th and 18th centuries has resurfaced and looks set to become more prevalent in parts of the world you’d never expect to see it.
Scurvy, caused by vitamin C deficiency, is back in the news following the hospitalization of a 51-year-old Australian man who presented with an acute case of the condition, which until recent years was rare in Western industrialized countries. .
The man was admitted to Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital in Western Australia’s capital Perth with a painful rash on his legs, which had spread to his entire body, while he underwent a series of tests to determine why his blood vessels had become so inflamed.
BMJ Case Reports
Although the man had blood in his urine and signs of anemia, extensive testing showed no evidence of autoimmune or blood disorders or internal bleeding. And it wasn’t until he was questioned about his diet that it became clear that his symptoms were aligned with scurvy; The disease may be experiencing a resurgence in rich countries as more people face cost-of-living pressures.
“Further history revealed that the patient’s living conditions were poor,” medical researchers said. “He had financial difficulties and therefore neglected his nutrition. His meals consisted mostly of processed foods, lacking vegetables and fruits. He sometimes skipped meals, which has become more frequent in recent weeks. He also stopped taking the following prescribed vitamin and mineral supplements. Therefore, gastric bypass An underlying nutritional deficiency was suspected because he could not afford his surgery.”
The patient eventually recovered after daily supplements of vitamin C (1000 mg), vitamin D3, folic acid, and multivitamins, but scurvy can be fatal if left untreated. Since vitamin C is essential for wound healing, maintaining the immune system and bone regeneration, malnutrition for just one month can trigger the condition, with early warning signs such as a painful rash, swelling in the legs, fatigue and increased bruising. It can then progress due to infection and bleeding and be fatal.
Although it killed millions of sailors centuries ago, it is a rare occurrence in developed countries such as the United States and Australia. But researchers believe scurvy is making a comeback due to the rising cost of living and nutritional compromises caused by a lack of affordable foods rich in vitamin C.
American comedian Matt Storrs recently told that he had scurvy when he was a university student.
@mtstorrs I was so stupid as a college freshman but it turned into a story that I’m so excited to share this week on @The Moth #story #scurvy #fypシ #collegelife #medicalmystery ♬ original voice – Matt Storrs
“90% of vitamin C in the human diet comes from citrus fruits and vegetables such as sweet peppers, broccoli, cauliflower, and tomatoes,” researchers said in a 2022 study. “Thermal treatment can reduce the vitamin C content of foods. Overt scurvy requires 40-90 days of sustained hypovitaminosis C to develop, but clinical signs may appear within 30 days of vitamin C malnutrition.”
While scurvy has never actually gone away – populations at risk include those with alcoholism or eating disorders, bariatric surgery patients and the elderly – researchers are concerned that this ‘Renaissance disease’ is starting to have a much broader impact.
“Scurvy is still considered a disease of the past, especially in developed countries,” the researchers said.
In a paper published in July 2024, US researchers found that cases of pediatric scurvy tripled between 2016 and 2020. And within those numbers, they found that those most at risk also had a low rate of other health problems, such as obesity and autism spectrum disorder. socioeconomic status.
But the good news is that scurvy is easy to combat and symptoms can be relieved in as little as 24 hours. But the medical team treating the 51-year-old Australian add that greater awareness among healthcare professionals and the public will ultimately save lives. Being aware of the importance of vitamin C intake will help prevent the need for medical intervention.
“The treatment for scurvy is vitamin C supplementation,” they added. “The recommendation in children is 100 mg ascorbic acid three times a day for a week and then once a day for several weeks until complete recovery. Adults are treated with 300-1,000 mg ascorbic acid daily for a month. Response to vitamin C supplementation was as in our case.” It is reported that even one dose of vitamin C can stop gastrointestinal bleeding and provide capillary stability to heal skin lesions within 24 hours.
“Clinicians should be aware of this fatal but easily treatable condition that can still occur in the modern era.”
The study was published on: BMJ Case Reports.
Source: Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital via Scimex