Scurvy
Scurvy is caused by a lack of vitamin C in your diet.
If your body doesn't have enough vitamin C, it can't produce new collagen (a protein found in many different types of body tissue, including the skin and bones). Without a new supply of collagen, the body's tissue will begin to break down and deteriorate.
In the developed world, even if someone has a relatively unhealthy and imbalanced diet, itshould provide an adequate supply of vitamin C. Therefore, for scurvy to develop, there are usually other contributing factors, such as:
In the UK, scurvy in children is relatively rare. It usually occurs through a combination of parents being on a low income and knowing little about nutrition. For example, in 2009, a case of scurvy was reported in a child whose diet only consisted of bread and jam.
However, delayed or unsuccessful weaning of babies and toddlers to solid food can also lead to scurvy, if these children aren't given the recommended supplementation of vitamins A, C and D from six months of age, or if they're drinking less than 500ml of formula milk.
See vitamins for children for more information.
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.