Inability to walk due to scurvy: A forgotten disease

Scurvy has become rare in modern societies, but should be considered in malnourished persons, alcoholics, and in infants on unsupplemented milk diets who present with musculoskeletal pain or a bleeding tendency. The diagnosis of scurvy can be challenging because of the rare incidence and vague and n...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Annals of Saudi medicine 2010-07, Vol.30 (4), p.325-328
Main Authors: Algahtani, Hussein A, Abdu, Abduljaleel P, Khojah, Imad M, Al-Khathaami, Ali M
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Acids
Ascorbic Acid - therapeutic use
Ascorbic Acid Deficiency - complications
Ascorbic Acid Deficiency - drug therapy
Care and treatment
Case Report
Case studies
Child
Collagen
Diagnosis
Diet
Health aspects
Humans
Male
Metabolites
Milk
Mortality
Nutrition
Pain
Pain - etiology
Patient outcomes
Pituitary gland
Prognosis
Respiratory system
Risk factors
Saudi Arabia
Scurvy
Scurvy - diagnosis
Scurvy - drug therapy
Scurvy - etiology
Scurvy - physiopathology
Severity of Illness Index
Vitamin C
Vitamins - therapeutic use
Walking
Wound healing
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Summary:Scurvy has become rare in modern societies, but should be considered in malnourished persons, alcoholics, and in infants on unsupplemented milk diets who present with musculoskeletal pain or a bleeding tendency. The diagnosis of scurvy can be challenging because of the rare incidence and vague and nonspecific early symptoms. We report here a case of scurvy in a young boy who presented with an inability to walk and severe musculoskeletal pain. The diagnosis was established based on his clinical picture, radiological appearance, and low serum level of vitamin C. The patient responded well to vitamin C supplementation with full resolution of his symptoms. He regained his ability to walk and his family was happy and satisfied with the outcome of treatment. Although the incidence of scurvy has become low in Saudi Arabia, it can still occur and early recognition is important because of the excellent prognosis.
ISSN:0256-4947
0975-4466
DOI:10.4103/0256-4947.65266