Scurvy
The symptoms of scurvy usually begin three months after a person stops getting enough vitamin C in their diet.
In adults, the initial symptoms of scurvy include:
The spotsdevelop where individual hairs grow out of the skin (hair follicles), and they often occur on the shins. Hairs in affected areas usually twist around like corkscrews and break away easily. Without treatment, the spots can grow and merge to create large dark patches on your skin.
Other symptoms then follow, including:
Left untreated, scurvy can cause jaundice (yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes), oedema (swelling caused by a build-up of fluid)and potentially fatal heart problems.
In infants, the initial symptoms of scurvy include:
As the condition progresses, additional symptoms include:
Scurvy is a rare condition that can occur if you don't have enough vitamin C in your diet. All of the vitamin C that the body needs has to come from your diet, so the best way to prevent scurvy is to eat a healthy, balanced diet that contains plenty of fruit and vegetables.
The symptoms of scurvy usually begin three months after a person stops getting enough vitamin C in their diet.
Scurvy is caused by a lack of vitamin C in your diet.
Scurvy is treated with vitamin C supplements, which can quickly improve your symptoms.
The best way to prevent scurvy is to eat a healthy, balanced diet that contains plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables.