Other Names:
Vitamin C Deficiency

Symptoms:
Swelling and bleeding of the gums, tenderness of joints and muscles, poor healing of wounds, and increased susceptibility to bruising and infection. Rough, dry, discolored skin. Scurvy may occur concurrently with gingivitis (which see).

An infant with scurvy is comfortable only when lying on his back with his knees partially bent and his thighs turned outward. His bones are less capable of retaining calcium and phosphorous, causing them to become weak and eventually brittle.

Cause:
Scurvy is a malnutrition disease, caused by a diet that is deficient in vitamin C.

Treatment:
• Scurvy responds, in as little as 2-3 days, to a daily intake of 100-200 mg of vitamin C.

• Fresh fruits and green leafy vegetables are also full of vitamin C.

• In order to promote blood and bone repair, from damage caused by scurvy, a well-balanced diet, high in protein and iron, is also needed.

• Supply bioflavonoids (vitamin P), which work closely with vitamin C. These will be found in vitamin C-rich foods.