SCURVY
This condition called scurvy is a deficiency of vitamin C.
We all know that vitamin C is a water soluble vitamin and is found in most fruits and most green leafy vegetables. It is absent in cereals, most animal products and canned milk.
This may be seen at any age but more commonly occurs between 6 and 24 months.
Breast-fed babies rarely develop scurvy since they have adequate stores of vitamin C at birth if the mother’s intake is sufficient. This explains why pregnant mothers are advised during prenatal checkups to have a well-balanced diet. Breast milk contains 4 to 7 mg/dl of ascorbic acid.
Clinically, infants with early stages of scurvy present with vague symptoms of irritability, digestive disturbances and loss of appetite to eat.
Later on, this irritability progresses with the infant crying every time the legs are touched or moved. They may assume a “frog position”.
Other manifestations seen are the following:
1. Bluish-purple, swollen gums
2. Rosary of scorbutic beads at the costochondral junctions
3. Petechiae, melena and bloody urine
4. Low grade fever
5. Anemia
6. Delay in wound healing
7. Impairment in growth and development
The diagnosis of scurvy can be made on the basis of a history of vitamin C- deficient diet, clinical manifestations and radiologic findings in the long bones. The recovery is rapid with adequate treatment and no permanent deformity is seen.