Scurvy Is an Important Problem in the East of Anatolia, Turkiye: Three Cases Report

Abstract

Scurvy is a multisystemic nutritional disorder which synthesis of collagen is destructed due to deficiency of vitamin C and its characteristic findings on hematological system and bone. Scurvy may occur at any age, frequently in infants aged 6-24 months. It is usually affected in children with severely developmental problems and suffered from malnutrition. Causes of inadequate ascorbic acid in infancy are usually starting weaning late, giving limited fresh fruits and vegetables, and mistakes in preparing foods. There is general tenderness, frog position at legs, edematous swelling along the shafts of legs, subperiosteal hemorrhage at the knees joints in with scurvy patients. Petechial hemorrhages may occur in skin and mucous membranes. The diagnosis of scurvy is usually based on the characteristic clinical picture, the roentgenographic changes in the long bones, and history of inadequate intake of ascorbic acid in infancy. We described here, three children with suffered from scurvy who had markedly vitamin C deficient in their diets. We wish to emphasize that, it is still a problem among malnutrition children in our country. Copyright © 2010 by Türkiye Klinikleri.