Scurvy is a disease that develops with a constant deficiency of vitamin C in food. This disease has been known since ancient times and is directly related to malnutrition and the lack of essential nutrients in the diet. Previously, sailors or travelers suffered from scurvy, as they lacked fresh products.
Often in the northern regions due to a lack of vitamin C in the spring, scurvy appears. This disease is not observed in infants up to about four months of age, since the necessary vitamin C comes from breastfeeding, but with artificial feeding, the first symptoms of scurvy may appear.
The usual symptoms of scurvy in children begin to appear at the age of one to two years, less often scurvy in children manifests itself at an older age. The first symptoms of scurvy are as follows: there is no appetite, the child complains of an upset stomach or digestive tract, diarrhea, vomiting can occur. Children become lethargic, a pale complexion appears, they lose weight and, as a rule, their growth slows down. Children's immunity weakens, resistance to infections decreases. Various infections can occur in the middle ear, lungs, genitals, and more. After some time, preschool children exhibit hemorrhagic diathesis - this is a rash that protrudes on the cheeks, in the folds of the neck, in the eyes and auricles. The skin cracks and wounds appear that heal very slowly. Functional disturbances are observed in joints, bones, vessel walls, and cartilage.
In childhood, symptoms of scurvy can be pain in the limbs. Pay attention to a child who cries and complains of muscle pain - this may be the first manifestation of a disease such as scurvy. Symptoms appear due to subperiostal hematoma, which in the initial stage causes quite painful sensations and swelling on the arms and legs. In a complex form, the patient begins to "protect" his painful sensations, that is, when touched, he strains his limbs, giving the impression of a paralysis. In this case, the pineal gland begins to exfoliate.
Scurvy is a disease that can be combated if measures are taken in time, knowing the main symptoms. For example, at the initial stage, the surface of the gums is quite smooth, even, shiny, subsequently, the gums begin to crack and, as a rule, bleed and flow. Subsequently, the color of the gums changes, it becomes blue, and sometimes purple. As a result of the changes, bad breath appears, which clearly shows us that the person is sick, and the name of this ailment is scurvy. A disease in this form in children in modern times is practically not found. Sometimes scurvy manifests itself in a milder form, and its symptom is weakened immunity and minor bleeding from the gums.
Symptoms of childhood illness such as subperiosteal hemorrhage and bone hemorrhage also occur. In infants, symptoms of scurvy are fever, rapid heart rate and breathing.
With such an ailment as scurvy, treatment begins with the replenishment of vitamin C that is missing from the body. Ascorbic acid is the main element necessary to restore and maintain all normal body functions. In a combination of ascorbic acid with vitamin B2, folic acid synthesis is activated. Vitamin C is found in the following foods: fruits, berries, as well as lemon, tomato, orange juices, grated carrots and more. In a mild form, the treatment takes place on an outpatient basis, in a severe form, under the supervision of a doctor while observing bed rest.