scurvy
Also known as Deficiency of vitamin C, L-Gulonolactone Oxidase, Nonfunctional, HYPOASCORBEMIA, L-Gulonolactone Oxidase Pseudogene, Vitamin C, Inability to Synthesize, Scorbutus, Vitamin C deficiency
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Key facts
- Medical condition.name
- Scurvy
- Medical condition.image
- Scorbutic gums.jpg
- Medical condition.caption
- Scorbutic gums, a symptom of scurvy. The triangle-shaped areas between the teeth show redness of the gums.
- Medical condition.synonyms
- Moeller's disease, Cheadle's disease, scorbutus, Barlow's disease, hypoascorbemia, vitamin C deficiency, hypovitaminosis C
- Medical condition.field
- Endocrinology
- Medical condition.symptoms
- Weakness, feeling tired, changes to hair, sore arms and legs, gum disease, easy bleeding
- Medical condition.causes
- Lack of vitamin C
- Medical condition.risks
- Mental disorders, unusual eating habits, alcohol use disorder, substance use disorder, intestinal malabsorption, dialysis, voyages at sea (historic), being stuck adrift
- Medical condition.diagnosis
- Based on symptoms
- Medical condition.treatment
- Vitamin C supplements, diet that contains fruit and vegetables (notably citrus)
~34 min read
Article
20 sectionsContents
- Signs and symptoms
- Cause
- Pathogenesis
- Diagnosis
- Differential diagnosis
- Prevention
- Treatment
- History
- Early modern era
- 18th century
- 19th century
- 20th century
- 21st century
- Human trials
- In other animals
- Name
- See also
- References
- Further reading
- External links
Scurvy or scorbutus is a deficiency disease (state of malnutrition) resulting from a lack of vitamin C (ascorbic acid). Early symptoms of deficiency include weakness, fatigue, and sore arms and legs. Without treatment, decreased red blood cells, gum disease, changes to hair, and bleeding from the skin may occur. As scurvy worsens, there can be poor wound healing, personality changes, and finally death from infection or bleeding.
It takes at least a month of little to no vitamin C in the diet before symptoms occur. In modern times, scurvy occurs most commonly in neglected children, people with mental disorders, unusual eating habits, alcoholism, and older people who live alone. Other risk factors include intestinal malabsorption and dialysis.