Doctors are sounding the alarm: scurvy, a disease linked to a vitamin C deficiency and seen as a pathology of the past, is once again appearing in hospitals.
- A 50-year-old man living in Australia was diagnosed with scurvy, a disorder caused by vitamin C deficiency.
- Doctors discovered that the patient, who had undergone bariatric surgery 8 years earlier, had stopped eating fresh produce and taking nutritional supplements due to financial difficulties.
- Doctors are calling for vigilance when making diagnoses because several cases of scurvy resulting from poor diet or obesity surgery have been reported in recent years.
Scurvy – a disease linked to a serious vitamin C deficiency – decimated generations of sailors attempting to cross oceans. This disorder gradually disappeared from Western countries as diets improved and the role of vitamins was understood.
Australian doctors were particularly surprised when they discovered that one of their patients, a fifty-year-old, was suffering from it. They report his case in the journal BMJ Case Reports and try to warn against the causes of the reappearance of the disease.
A case of scurvy in an Australian hospital
The patient, who lives in Western Australia, went to hospital because very painful rashes suddenly appeared on both of his legs. Biopsy, blood test, scanner… The various examinations carried out by emergency personnel did not succeed in identifying the disease which was progressing. In fact, the condition of his limbs worsened to the point of showing bruising and swelling. Blood was also found in his urine.
It was the point about his lifestyle that ultimately guided the doctors. The patient revealed that he had lost his job and was having serious financial difficulties. These forced him to reduce his food expenses. “His meals consisted mainly of processed foods, devoid of vegetables or fruits”explain the authors in the case report. “Sometimes he would skip meals, which was happening more frequently in recent weeks.”
Although he had part of his stomach removed 8 years earlier to lose weight, the man also stopped taking the vitamin and mineral supplements prescribed after the procedure because “he couldn’t afford it” to buy some.
It is these different elements which led to the development of scurvy according to doctors. “Our patient had multiple risk factors, namely poor dietary habits, obesity, previous bariatric surgery, use of proton pump inhibitors, and low-income status”they add in their press release.
Case of scurvy: cost of living, diet and bariatric surgery involved?
After the diagnosis of scurvy and nutritional deficiencies, the patient was prescribed a daily intake of 1,000 mg of vitamin C, 125 micrograms of vitamin D3, 5 milligrams of folic acid and multivitamins. He also met with a dietitian who designed a meal plan with him. For example, he had to eat a lemon every day. Little by little, his health improved. “This disease is easily reversible with supplementation, with a dramatic response observed within 24 hours”explain the authors.
However, they recall that scurvy “considered a disease of the past, especially in developed countries” remains a danger. “The increasing cost of living makes it more difficult for families to afford good quality, nutritious food, while many cases of scurvy resulting from complications following bariatric surgery have been reported.“Doctors are calling on health professionals to be vigilant: “failure to treat can result in catastrophic hemorrhage, therefore early recognition and prompt treatment are essential”they recall in their article.
