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- Title
Scurvy is still present in developed countries.
- Authors
Velandia, Bertha; Centor, Robert M.; McConnell, Vicky; Shah, Mobin
- Abstract
<bold>Introduction: </bold>Scurvy, while uncommon, still occurs in developed countries despite the widespread availability of vitamins and fortified foods. A vitamin C deficiency prevalence of 10 to 14% in adults was reported in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) in 1994.<bold>Objective: </bold>We report the case of a 57-year-old male who presented with a combined vitamin C deficiency (scurvy) and a Zinc deficiency.<bold>Interventions: </bold>He came to the emergency department complaining of a painful swollen ecchymotic leg and dyspnea. Prescriptions for narcotics did not relieve his symptoms. When a detailed dietary history was obtained, we added scurvy to the differential diagnosis. An extensive evaluation excluded trauma, coagulopathies, neoplasia, and vasculitides.<bold>Main Result: </bold>The combination of a classic skin biopsy and a low vitamin C level confirmed the diagnosis.<bold>Conclusion: </bold>This presentation illustrates the necessity of including scurvy in the differential diagnosis of ecchymoses and demonstrates specific populations at risk: single adults and the elderly with deficient diets.
- Subjects
SCURVY; VITAMIN C deficiency; ENRICHED foods; DEVELOPING countries; VITAMINS
- Publication
JGIM: Journal of General Internal Medicine, 2008, Vol 23, Issue 8, p1281
- ISSN
0884-8734
- Publication type
journal article
- DOI
10.1007/s11606-008-0577-1