A recent Canadian case of scurvy shows the disease is not just an archaic diagnosis of 18th-century seafarers.
After a 65-year-old woman from Toronto was diagnosed with scurvy last year, researchers say doctors should watch for possible cases.
The study published Monday in the Canadian Medical Association Journal (CMAJ) outlines the case of the woman who was treated at an emergency department after experiencing “progressive leg weakness and poor mobility” over eight days. Doctors also observed skin lesions, gum changes and anemia, among other symptoms.
She was diagnosed with scurvy, also called hypovitaminosis C, a disease caused by an extreme deficiency in vitamin C, according to researchers. Vitamin C plays an essential role in many metabolic processes, production of collagen and wound healing.
Doctors are being advised to watch out for cases of scurvy, such as in patients with abnormal bleeding. …