What is Scurvy Disease? Symptoms and Treatment

Scurvy is defined as a severe vitamin C deficiency. Vitamin C, or ascorbic acid, is an essential nutrient. It plays a role in the development and function of various body structures and their related processes. Among these functions are to ensure the proper formation of collagen, a protein that can give structure and stability to the connective tissues of the body, to metabolize cholesterol and protein and to absorb iron, to have an antioxidant effect, to repair wounds and to create neurotransmitters such as dopamine and epinephrine.

What is scurvy?

If you don't get enough vitamin C from what you eat or drink, it's natural to experience vitamin C deficiency. In addition, if you have a health problem that prevents you from getting vitamin C from food, it is still possible to experience vitamin C deficiency. For example, smoking reduces the body's ability to absorb vitamin C. Some chronic diseases also interfere with the absorption of vitamin C. Cancer or kidney diseases increase your chances of suffering from vitamin C deficiency.

What are the Symptoms of Scurvy Disease?

Vitamin C has many different functions in the body, and in the deficiency of this vitamin, the body shows some symptoms. Typically, symptoms of scurvy begin after at least four weeks of severe and sustained vitamin C deprivation. However, it usually takes three months or more for symptoms to appear.
Early symptoms are as follows:

weight loss
feeling of exhaustion
suppression of appetite
state of being irritable
pain in the legs
low body temperature

Symptoms that occur after 1-3 months can be listed as follows: >

Anemia caused by a lack of blood cells in the blood

soft and sensitive gums that bleed easily, tooth infections and tooth decay

bleeding on the skin

bruises and raised formations in the hair follicles

reddish-blue bruises usually seen on the legs and feet

swollen and tender joints

shortness of breath and feeling of pain in the chest

dryness and irritation of the eyes

slowing the healing process of wounds

weakening of the immune system

hypersensitivity to light

decreased vision

sudden mood swings, being generally irritable and depressed

digestive bleeding

When left untreated, scurvy can cause life-threatening conditions and serious complications can develop. There may be severe jaundice of the skin and eyes. Hemolysis, in which blood cells begin to break down, can occur. Tooth loss may occur. Numbness and pain may occur in the hands and feet. On top of that, it can result in organ failure, coma, and death.

Risk Factors and Causes

Unfortunately, your body cannot produce vitamin C on its own. This means that you should get all the vitamin C you need from the food or drink you consume. You can also take vitamin C in the form of supplements by consulting your doctor.

When we look at people with scurvy in general, it is seen that these people cannot easily reach fresh fruits and vegetables or do not eat a healthy diet. Scurvy affects many people in the developing world. Recent public health research shows that scurvy is much more common in developed countries than was once thought. Risk factors for scurvy can be listed as follows:

being a child or over 65 years of age
excessive daily alcohol consumption
use of harmful and wrong substances such as drugs
restrictive diet
low income and difficult access to nutritious foods
some eating disorders or psychiatric conditions
injuries
some known diseases of the digestive system (Crohn's disease, irritable bowel syndrome, etc.)
weak immunity
almost all of the cultural nutrition is bread , living in a place where it relies on carbohydrates such as pasta and corn
chronic diarrhea
dehydration of the body
smoking
chemotherapy and radiation therapy
dialysis and kidney failure

How to Treat Scurvy Disease

If you suspect scurvy, go to the doctor first. In particular, you will encounter questions about your nutritional history. Symptoms of the disease are checked and a blood test is requested. The blood test checks and monitors the levels of vitamin C in your blood serum. Although the symptoms can be severe, there is no need to worry. Because the treatment of scurvy is possible and quite easy. It is very beneficial to pay attention to your diet and to stop your harmful habits.

Vitamin C is an important component for the body, which is included in the natural content of many fruits and vegetables. This vitamin can also be taken into the body by adding it to fruit juices, cereals and snacks. One of the easiest ways to prevent scurvy is to pay attention to the amount of fresh fruit and vegetables you consume in your diet.

Oral vitamin C supplements are also widely available on the market, and this vitamin is included in most multivitamins. If you have made changes in your diet for a few days and the symptoms still persist, talk to your doctor and let him/her know about the situation. There is no clear consensus on the dose to be taken for patients with severe scurvy. In these cases, the doctor determines the appropriate doses and the duration of taking these doses according to the patient's condition. Most patients manage to overcome scurvy in a very short time after starting treatment. Some symptoms usually improve on the first or second day of treatment. Pain, fatigue, confusion, and mood swings improve. Symptoms such as weakness, bleeding, bruising and jaundice may disappear in a few weeks.

What are the Sources of Vitamin C?

Citrus fruits such as oranges and lemons are traditional fruits used to prevent and treat scurvy. Some other fruits and vegetables, such as citrus fruits, contain high levels of vitamin C, and they play an important role in the fight against diseases thanks to their rich vitamin C content. In addition, many foods, such as juices and cereals, also contain vitamin C. Vitamin C is water-soluble. Ways of cooking, canning and long-term storage pre-empt the vitamin content in foods. substantially reduces. It is best to consume foods rich in vitamin C raw or as little exposed to heat as possible. Foods rich in vitamin C include broccoli, strawberries, green peppers and tomatoes. Most adults need between 75 and 90 milligrams of vitamin C daily. Pregnant and lactating women may have higher daily vitamin needs.

Scurvy in Babies

Babies with scurvy are restless and difficult to calm down, causing panic in parents. The bones of babies suffering from this disease are weak, fragile and prone to bleeding. Risk factors for scurvy in infants can be listed as follows:

maternal malnutrition
feeding the baby with boiled milk
feeding the baby with a restrictive diet
digestive or absorption problems in the baby

The answer to the question of what scurvy means can be given as a disease caused by chronic vitamin C deficiency, as explained above. It is a condition that often develops in people who are fed a poor and unbalanced diet. However, it can be treated simply with dietary changes or the use of supplements. Left untreated, chronic scurvy can lead to serious health problems. It is known that a regular and balanced diet is one of the golden rules of a healthy life. Scurvy is also closely related to eating habits. Include fresh vegetables and fruits in your diet. When you show symptoms of scurvy, be sure to consult your doctor and have your tests done.

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