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Scurvy in a 10‐Year‐Old Boy
Author(s) -
Cole John A.,
Warthan Molly M.,
Hirano Stefanie A.,
Gowen Clarence W.,
Williams Judith V.
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
pediatric dermatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.542
H-Index - 73
eISSN - 1525-1470
pISSN - 0736-8046
DOI - 10.1111/j.1525-1470.2010.01095.x
Subject(s) - scurvy , medicine , ascorbic acid , vitamin c , dermatology , pediatrics , hyperplasia , ascorbic acid deficiency , vitamin , surgery , pathology , chemistry , food science
Scurvy, or hypovitaminosis C, is an uncommon condition that exists today primarily within certain unique populations—particularly the elderly subjects, patients with neurodevelopmental disabilities or psychiatric illnesses, or others with unusual dietary habits. Vitamin C is an essential nutrient in the human body, and is important in synthesizing collagen factor whose faulty production is responsible for most of the clinical manifestations of scurvy. These clinical manifestations can include dystrophic or corkscrew hairs, gingival hyperplasia, and weakened blood vessel walls, causing bleeding in the skin, joints, and other organs. Although rare in the Unites States, the presence of scurvy should not be forgotten because of its presence among susceptible populations. Moreover, with its diagnosis, treatment and cure is one of the simplest in modern medicine. We report a case of scurvy in a 10‐year‐old autistic child.