Scurvy symptoms
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Common Scurvy Symptoms: Fatigue, Weakness, and Malaise
Scurvy, caused by vitamin C deficiency, often begins with nonspecific symptoms such as fatigue, weakness, malaise, and irritability. These early signs can be mistaken for other conditions, making scurvy difficult to diagnose in its initial stages Kassa2024Lu2023Ververs2019.
Skin and Mucocutaneous Manifestations: Petechiae, Purpura, and Gum Changes
A hallmark of scurvy is the appearance of skin and mucocutaneous symptoms. These include perifollicular petechiae (small red or purple spots), purpuric rash, ecchymoses (bruising), and hyperkeratotic skin changes. Patients may also develop corkscrew hairs and easy bruising. Gum symptoms are common, such as swollen, bleeding, or hypertrophic gums, gingivitis, and, in severe cases, loose teeth and friable gingival tissue Mertens2011Henley2025Kassa2024+4 MORE.
Musculoskeletal Symptoms: Joint Pain, Swelling, and Bone Changes
Musculoskeletal complaints are frequent in scurvy. These include joint and muscle pain, synovitis with effusion (joint swelling), hemarthrosis (bleeding into joints), arthritis, and refusal to walk or bear weight, especially in children. Limping, lower limb pain, and edema are also reported. Imaging, particularly MRI, may reveal bone marrow changes and joint inflammation, even when X-rays are normal Mertens2011Kassa2024Gilley2024+3 MORE.
Hematological and Systemic Features: Anemia and Delayed Wound Healing
Scurvy can cause anemia, often due to chronic blood loss from fragile blood vessels and poor iron absorption. Patients may also experience delayed wound healing and increased susceptibility to infections. Raised inflammatory markers, such as erythrocyte sedimentation rate and C-reactive protein, are sometimes observed Mertens2011Kassa2024Raynaud-Simon2010+1 MORE.
Constitutional and Psychiatric Symptoms: Appetite Loss, Weight Loss, and Mood Changes
Other symptoms include loss of appetite, severe weight loss, and general malaise. Psychiatric manifestations, such as depression, irritability, and even psychosis, can occur, sometimes without classic physical signs. These neuropsychiatric symptoms may improve with vitamin C supplementation Kassa2024Lu2023Jaini2023.
Less Common and Severe Presentations
Rarely, scurvy can present with severe complications like pulmonary hypertension or syncope. In children, scurvy may mimic other diseases, such as vasculitis or infectious and oncologic conditions, leading to extensive and unnecessary diagnostic workups Mertens2011Henley2025Kassa2024+1 MORE.
Conclusion
Scurvy presents with a wide range of symptoms, from subtle fatigue and irritability to striking skin, gum, and musculoskeletal changes. Early recognition of these signs—especially in individuals with poor nutrition, restrictive diets, or malabsorption—is crucial, as symptoms typically resolve rapidly with vitamin C supplementation Mertens2011Henley2025Kassa2024+7 MORE.
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