Scurvy in United States in 2022 - A Rare Nutritional Deficiency which may have been forgotten in the Developed Countries

Authors

  • Nabiha Mustafa
  • Aemen Shams Khakwani
  • Mohammad Raza Khan
  • Areebah Qadir
  • Subhan Shah
  • Sarah Siddiqui
  • Babar Mirza
  • Memoona Khan
  • Muhammad Nadeem Anwar
  • Usman Ahmad Khan

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.47672/ajhmn.1235

Keywords:

Scurvy, vitamin C, myalgias, anemia

Abstract

Purpose: Scurvy is a disease that has ancient relevance but is a rare occurrence in the present times, due to the advancements in studies and convenient access to professional nutritionists and other services that provide guidance and plans to fulfil all nutritional requirements. In this case report, the authors present the case of a 68 year old male who was diagnosed with scurvy. The diagnosis and treatment of this disease has seen to be greatly delayed due to the infrequency of the cases reported, causing serious consequences for the patient. Scurvy presents with a variety of symptoms affecting the skin and soft tissues such as perifollicular hemorrhages, petechiae, bruising, and arthalgrias.

Methodology: The patient was prescribed 250 mg vitamin C supplements (also called Ascorbic acid) 3 times a day and was monitored after 2 weeks to note signs of improvements. Physical examination included observing petechial haemorrhages and bruises. Blood test should be recommended to assess vitamin C levels in blood after the prescribed duration of time.

Findings: The signs and symptoms were resolved after regular intake of ascorbic acid supplements for 2 weeks.

Recommendation: The findings signifies the need for consideration of scurvy as a possible diagnosis for petechial rash and easy bruising along with other differentials even during the modern era.

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Author Biographies

Nabiha Mustafa

Bakhtawar Amin Medical and Dental College

Aemen Shams Khakwani

Suburban Community Hospital, Norristown PA

Mohammad Raza Khan

Bakhtawar Amin Medical and Dental College

Areebah Qadir

Bakhtawar Amin Medical and Dental College

Subhan Shah

Aston University, Birmingham

Sarah Siddiqui

Dr. BR Ambedkar University

Babar Mirza

Windsor University School of Medicine

Memoona Khan

Quaid-e-Azam Medical College, PK

Muhammad Nadeem Anwar

University of Oklahoma and VA Medical Centre.

Usman Ahmad Khan

University of Oklahoma and VA Medical Centre.

References

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Huizen J. What Is Scurvy? Healthline. Published December 19, 2017. https://www.healthline.com/health/scurvy

Nishikimi M, Yagi K. Molecular basis for the deficiency in humans of gulonolactone oxidase, a key enzyme for ascorbic acid biosynthesis. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. 1991;54(6):1203S1208S. doi:10.1093/ajcn/54.6.1203s

Padayatty S, Levine M. Vitamin C: the known and the unknown and Goldilocks. Oral Diseases. 2016;22(6):463-493. doi:10.1111/odi.12446

Hampl JS, Taylor CA, Johnston CS. Vitamin C deficiency and depletion in the United States: the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 1988 to 1994. Am J Public Health. 2004;94(5):870-875. doi:10.2105/ajph.94.5.870

Thomas DR. Vitamins in health and aging. Clin Geriatr Med. 2004;20(2):259-274. doi:10.1016/j.cger.2004.02.001

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Published

2022-10-18

How to Cite

Mustafa, N., Khakwani, A. S. ., Khan, M. R. ., Qadir, A. ., Shah, S. ., Siddiqui, S. ., … Khan, U. A. . (2022). Scurvy in United States in 2022 - A Rare Nutritional Deficiency which may have been forgotten in the Developed Countries. American Journal of Health, Medicine and Nursing Practice, 7(12), 8–11. https://doi.org/10.47672/ajhmn.1235