A study carried out over nine years revealed a marked increase in cases of scurvy among French children after the Covid-19 pandemic.
- The increase in cases of scurvy among children, often linked to an unbalanced diet or one low in fruits and vegetables, raises some concerns about access to a healthy diet.
- According to a recent study, published in the scientific journal ‘The Lancet’, cases of scurvy are increasing among children in France.
- Inflation may be one of the main causes of this increase in scurvy among children, due to the decline in purchasing power and reduced access to a varied and healthy diet.
Scurvy, a disease caused by prolonged vitamin C deficiency, has long been associated with sea travel and fairly precarious living conditions. Although historically rare in developed countries, this disease is resurfacing, particularly among the most vulnerable populations. A new study carried out in France shows an increase in cases of scurvy among children since the Covid-19 pandemic, revealing the extent of socioeconomic inequalities in nutrition.
A revealing study of recent trends
The study carried out from 2015 to 2023 analyzed hospital data from 888 children hospitalized for scurvy. The results show a 34.5% increase in cases from March 2020, coinciding with the start of the pandemic. Specifically, the percentage of children hospitalized for scurvy and covered by Health Insurance increased from 20.8% to 27.6%. This increase was noted alongside a 20.3% increase in cases of severe malnutrition, reinforcing the hypothesis that economic crises have a direct impact on child nutrition. These changes have been particularly pronounced in vulnerable populations, whose access to healthy food has been restricted due to inflation.
Scurvy occurs after several months of vitamin C deficiency, which prevents the synthesis of collagen, essential for tissue health. Children from low-income families, those with limited access to fresh fruits and vegetables, and smokers are particularly at risk. Inflation has exacerbated these inequalities, making access to a balanced diet more difficult.
Symptoms and treatment of scurvy
Scurvy manifests itself as general fatigue, muscle and joint pain, bleeding gums and easy bruising. If left untreated, it can lead to serious and even fatal complications. Treatment is mainly based on vitamin C supplementation, which allows rapid improvement of symptoms. A diet rich in fresh fruits and vegetables is the best prevention to avoid this disease.
The return of scurvy in children reminds us “the need to act in the face of growing nutritional inequalities”. The study suggests that it is fundamental “to increase access to nutritional support programs and promote better nutrition for at-risk populations”.
