Scurvy, also known as severe vitamin C deficiency, is a disease caused by a lack of vitamin C. Vitamin C, also known as ascorbic acid, it is a necessary component in the diet. It affects the growth and operation of a variety of body structures and systems including: The appropriate development of collagen, a protein that aids in the shape and stability of the body's connective tissues; cholesterol and protein metabolism; iron absorption; antioxidant action; wound healing and neurotransmitters such as dopamine and adrenaline production.
What are some of the signs and symptoms of scurvy?
Vitamin C has a variety of functions in the body. A vitamin shortage generates a slew of symptoms. Scurvy symptoms usually appear after at least four weeks of severe, ongoing vitamin C insufficiency. Symptoms, on the other hand, usually take three months or longer to appear.
Symptoms to Look Out For
The following are early warning signs and symptoms of scurvy:
- irritation and a loss of appetite
- Fever of a mild intensity
After one to three months, symptoms appear.
After one to three months, untreated scurvy can cause the following symptoms:
- bruising-like raised lumps at hair follicles, usually on the shins
- anemia, when the blood lacks enough red blood cells or hemoglobin
- gingivitis, or red, soft, and tender gums that bleed easily
- skin hemorrhages, or bleeding under the skin
- irritation and bleeding in the conjunctiva (whites of the eyes) or optic nerve
- wound healing and immune system health are both harmed.
Complications that are severe
Long-term, untreated scurvy can cause the following symptoms and complications:
- Internal hemorrhaging neuropathy, or numbness and discomfort in the lower limbs and hands
- severe jaundice, which is yellowing of the skin and eyes
- widespread pain, tenderness.
- Hemolysis
Vitamin C is a nutrient that your body cannot produce on its own. That means you must obtain all of the vitamin C your body requires through food, beverages, or supplementation.The majority of people who have scurvy don't have access to fresh fruits and vegetables, and they don't eat a nutritious diet. Scurvy affects a large number of people in poor countries. Scurvy may be significantly more common in affluent countries than previously thought, according to recent public health surveys, especially among at-risk populations. Medical issues and lifestyle choices both contribute to the condition's risk.
Malnutrition and scurvy are caused by a number of circumstances, including:
- Being a child or being over the age of 65
- alcohol consumption on a daily basis
- When you live alone, you may need to follow a rigorous or specific diet.
- low income, limited access to healthy foods
- is a homeless person or a refugee living in a place where fresh fruits and vegetables are scarce
- Psychiatric diseases include fear of food, such as eating disorders.
- Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), Crohn's disease, and ulcerative colitis are examples of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) that cause neurological impairments.
- gastrointestinal or metabolic issues
- Living in a place where the culture's food is nearly exclusively made up of carbs such as bread, pasta, and corn has a negative impact on one's immune system.
- Dehydration, persistent diarrhea, smoking, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy
Diagnosis
If your doctor suspects you have scurvy, he or she will ask about your food history, look for symptoms, and request a blood test. The vitamin C levels in your blood serum will be determined by a blood test. Vitamin C levels in the blood serum of persons with scurvy are usually less than 11 mol/L.
Read more Is it possible to consume too much Vitamin C and experience early or delayed periods?
Treatment
Scurvy is a relatively simple disease to treat, despite its severe symptoms.Vitamin C can be found in a variety of fruits and vegetables. It's also commonly used in drinks, cereals, and snacks. If you feel you have a mild case of scurvy, the best method to treat it is to eat at least five servings of fruits and vegetables every day.Oral vitamin C pills are commonly accessible, and most multivitamins contain the vitamin. Consult a doctor if symptoms persist after a few days of dietary modifications. A doctor may prescribe high-doses of oral vitamin C supplements for several weeks to months in severe, chronic instances of scurvy.
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