What is scurvy?
Scurvy is a disease which is caused by the lack of vitamin C or ascorbic acid. It is rare and easy to treat.
Symptoms
There are several symptoms of scurvy. Some of these are given below:
• Anemia
• Myalgia, or pain, including bone pain
• Swelling, or edema
• Petechiae, or small red spots resulting from bleeding under the skin
• Corkscrew hairs
• Gum disease and loss of teeth
• Poor wound healing
• Shortness of breath
• Mood changes, and depression
• The teeth root become loose and finally begins to bleed
• Mouth ache
• Bleeding stops hardly
• Flue, cough etc. diseases attack easily
Causes of scurvy
The main cause of scurvy is the lack of vitamin C. But there are also some other reasons which are below:
• Not including vitamin C in your diet for many months
• Smoking, as it hinders your body’s vitamin C exploitation
• Drinking alcohol for long time
• Poor balanced diet while in pregnancy and breastfeeding
• A poor diet due to financial problem and famine
• Being a child or for older age
• Less eating due to eating disorder such as anorexia or some treatments which make eating difficult such as chemotherapy , radiation therapy
• Having failure of kidney and receiving dialysis
• Owing to allergies, having restrictive diet and other reasons
Sources of vitamin C
Vitamin C is found mostly in fruits and vegetables.
• Citrus fruit, such as oranges and orange juice
• Peppers
• Strawberries
• Blackcurrants
• Broccoli
• Brussels sprouts
• Potatoes
Prevention
The best way to prevent scurvy is to take enough vitamin C.
Age Quantity
Up to 6 months 40 mg, as normally supplied through breastfeeding
7 to 12 months 50 mg
1 to 3 years 15 mg
4 to 8 years 25 mg
9 to 13 years 45 mg
14 to 18 years 75 mg for men and 65 mg for women
19 & above years 90 mg for men and 75 mg for women
Pregnant women need 85gm of vitamin C whereas in breastfeeding it raises to 120mg. Smoker need 35mg more than nonsmokers.
Cure
You need to consult a doctor in this situation.
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