Scurvy
History
Scurvy is the clinical state arising from dietary deficiency of vitamin C (ascorbic acid). The Egyptians recorded scurvy as early as 550 BC. Epidemics were witnessed during the Renaissance era (th-8th century), at which time scurvy was the scourge of the sea explorers. In 74, James Lind, a British naval surgeon, established the fact that oranges and lemons were effective in curing scurvy.
Pathofysiology
Vitamin C (ascorbic acid), is a reducing agent, an antioxydant.
It is a cofactor for the enzyme prolyl hydroxylase, most likely by keeping its iron atom in a reduced state. The enzyme prolyl hydroxylase transforms the protein procollagen into collagen by hydroxylation of proline and lysine in procollagen into hydroxy- proline and hydroxylysine. This hydroxylation gives the collagen it’s strength, needed for connective tissue, bones and dentin, the major portion of teeth. The lack of collagen produces the symptoms in bones, teeth and bleeding, the symptoms of scurvy. Curiously, only primates and guinea pigs are unable to manufacture vitamin C on their own, having lost the genetic information necessary for the production of this important cofactor.
Symptoms
Haemorrhages
The lack of vitamin C makes the capillaries fragile. Internal hemorrhages cause black-and-blue marks to appear on the skin. At the first visible signs of scurvy, raised red spots appear on the skin around the hair follicles of the legs, buttocks, arms and back. When the tiny capillaries of the hair follicles hemorrhage, the hair-producing cells do not receive the nourishment needed for the hairs to grow normally. Consequently, the skin becomes flecked with small lesions that begin to appear on the body after about five months on a diet deficient in vitamin C.
Hemorrhaging is a hallmark feature of scurvy and can occur in any organ.
Gums and Teeth
The gums have a bluish-purple hue and feel spongy. Gum hemorrhage occurs only if teeth have erupted. Dentin, which lies below the enamel and is part of the root of teeth, breaks down. Teeth loosen and eating becomes difficult and painful. Hemorrhages of the gums usually involve the tissue around the upper incisors.
Bones
Limbs become painful and tender from the haemmorrhages under tight periosteum, < touch, < motion. Subperiosteal hemorrhage in the tibia and femur cause excruciating pain. It’s often palpable as swelling over the long bones. The limbs adopt the characeteristic ‘frog position’ with the thighs abducted and the knees slightly flexed. The excruciating pain can result in pseudoparalysis. Strong joint pain. Calcification of the growth cartilage at the end of the long bones continues, leading to the thickening of the growth
plate. The typical invasion of the growth cartilage by the capillaries does not occur. Preexisting bone becomes brittle and undergoes resorption at a normal rate, resulting in microscopic fractures of the spicules between the shaft and calcified cartilage. Costochondral beading or scorbutic rosary is a common finding. The scorbutic rosary is distinguished from rickety rosary (which is knobby and nodular) by being more angular and having a step-off at the costochondral junction. The sternum typically is depressed. Röntgen signs:
Trummerfeld scurvy zone: lucent band in metaphysis beneath white line of Frankel
White line of Frankel: dense zone of provisional calcification at edge of metaphysis, just beneath physis Wimberger ringdense: rim of demineralized epiphysis
Various symptoms
Hair follicles are one of the common sites of cutaneous bleeding. General symptoms
Weak.
Low-grade fever, anemia, and poor wound healing.
Proptosis of the eyeball secondary to orbital hemorrhage is a sign of scurvy. Tachypnea
Sudden death due to cardiac failure is reported in infants and adults.
Loss of appetite; poor weight gain.
Diarrhea
Petechial hemorrhage of the skin and mucous membranes can occur. Rarely, hematuria, hematochezia, and melaena are noted. Skin: hyperkeratosis, corkscrew hair, and sicca syndrome typically are observed in adult scurvy but rarely occur in infantile scurvy.
Mind
Irritable
The infant is apprehensive, anxious, and progressively irritable. Peevishness, Irritability.
= race, sex, age
Seminar Plants 3, 4-5 October 2002, © HAU, Stichting Alonnissos
25Causes
Scurvy is caused by lack of vitamin C or ascorbic acid. Inadequate intake of fresh fruits and vegetables can lead to this condition, for instance on long sea travels, famines and neglect. The disease is more common in artificially fed infants. Cow’s milk contains less than half the vitamin C found in breast milk. This is reduced further if the milk is boiled or processed. Scurvy may also occur in older children who are mentally retarded and cannot chew, and are consequently fed on sloppy foods.
Treatment
Scurvy is treated with vitamin C, ascorbic acid. It is found in fresh fruits and vegetables, Indian gooseberry (amla), lemon (bara nimbu) and lime (nmboo), green mangoes, orange, bittergourd, tomatoes and leafy vegetables such as spinach and cabbage. The most important factor in the prevention and treatment of scurvy in children is proper feeding. As far as possible, the baby should not be given artificially prepared, patent or tinned milk foods.
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