A child reaching for an orange, symbolizing vitamin C deficiency.

Beyond Oranges: Recognizing and Addressing Scurvy in Modern Diets

Rhea Morgan in Health & Wellness August 2025 • 3 min read.

"A Case Study Highlights the Importance of Vitamin C in Preventing Unexpected Health Issues"

Scurvy, a disease caused by vitamin C deficiency, is not just a relic of maritime history. While rare, it can still occur, especially in young children with extremely limited diets. A recent case highlights how crucial it is to recognize the signs and ensure adequate vitamin C intake.

This article discusses a case involving a 3-year-old boy who developed scurvy due to a highly restrictive diet. It explores the symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, and the importance of considering nutritional deficiencies even in developed countries.

By understanding the risks and symptoms of scurvy, parents and caregivers can take proactive steps to prevent this condition and ensure children receive the balanced nutrition they need.

The Case: A Modern Scurvy Story

A child reaching for an orange, symbolizing vitamin C deficiency.

A 3-year-old boy presented with several alarming symptoms: poorly healing oral lesions, refusal to walk, and sensitivity to touch. Initially, doctors suspected complications from a previous facial injury. However, the lesions appeared more like a chronic inflammatory issue than typical trauma.

Further investigation revealed a severely restricted diet. For 1.5 years, the boy had consumed only biscuits (providing carbohydrates, fats, protein with added vitamin B1) and cow's milk. He refused all other foods, and his parents eventually stopped offering them. This extreme diet raised concerns about nutritional deficiencies.

Oral examination revealed significant gingivitis with bleeding lesions.
The boy exhibited sensitivity to touch and resisted moving his hips and knees due to pain.
Blood tests ruled out infection, but further analysis showed extremely low vitamin C levels, along with deficiencies in zinc, selenium, biotin, vitamin B3, and folic acid.
X-rays showed subperiosteal hemorrhages in the distal femur metaphysis.

Based on these findings, doctors diagnosed alimentary scurvy (scurvy caused by dietary deficiency). Treatment began immediately with intravenous vitamin C, later switching to oral supplements, along with a fully balanced liquid nutrition. Pain medication was also administered. The results were remarkable.

Preventing Scurvy: Key Takeaways

The boy's condition rapidly improved with vitamin C supplementation. Within days, his pain decreased, and he began to regain mobility. Follow-up appointments showed complete recovery of bone structure and normalization of vitamin levels.

This case underscores that scurvy, or Möller-Barlow syndrome, remains a relevant concern. Early diagnosis and treatment are crucial to prevent severe complications. A thorough dietary history should be part of any evaluation for unexplained symptoms in children.

Parents and caregivers must be educated about the importance of a balanced diet that includes sufficient vitamin C. Awareness and proactive nutritional strategies are essential tools in preventing deficiency-related diseases.

About this Article -

This article was crafted using a human-AI hybrid and collaborative approach. AI assisted our team with initial drafting, research insights, identifying key questions, and image generation. Our human editors guided topic selection, defined the angle, structured the content, ensured factual accuracy and relevance, refined the tone, and conducted thorough editing to deliver helpful, high-quality information.See our About page for more information.

This article is based on research published under:

DOI-LINK: 10.1007/s00112-018-0534-y, Alternate LINK

Title: Ein Seltener Fall Von Alimentärem Skorbut

Subject: Surgery

Journal: Monatsschrift Kinderheilkunde

Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC

Authors: L. Tebart, K. Stein, R. Wunsch, R. Seul

Published: 2018-06-27

Everything You Need To Know

What exactly is scurvy, and why is it still relevant today?

Scurvy is caused by a deficiency in vitamin C. While it's often associated with historical maritime voyages, cases still occur today, particularly in individuals with highly restricted diets. The case study highlighted in the article focuses on a 3-year-old boy who developed scurvy due to a severely restricted diet consisting mainly of biscuits and cow's milk. This resulted in various symptoms, including oral lesions, pain, and reluctance to walk.

What were the key symptoms that led doctors to suspect scurvy in the 3-year-old boy?

The 3-year-old boy in the case study presented with several symptoms including poorly healing oral lesions (bleeding gums and gingivitis), a refusal to walk due to pain, and sensitivity to touch. X-rays also revealed subperiosteal hemorrhages in the distal femur metaphysis. Blood tests confirmed extremely low levels of vitamin C, along with deficiencies in other nutrients like zinc, selenium, biotin, vitamin B3, and folic acid.

How was the scurvy successfully treated in the child mentioned, and what was the outcome?

The child was treated with intravenous vitamin C initially, followed by oral vitamin C supplements. He also received a fully balanced liquid nutrition to address other deficiencies, and pain medication to manage discomfort. The treatment was highly effective, leading to rapid improvement in his condition, including decreased pain, improved mobility, and eventual normalization of vitamin levels and bone structure.

What are the primary risk factors that can lead to scurvy in modern times, especially in children?

The primary risk factor for scurvy is a diet severely lacking in vitamin C. The case study illustrates that even in developed countries, children with extremely limited food choices are susceptible. The boy's diet of only biscuits and cow's milk for 1.5 years provided insufficient vitamin C and other essential nutrients, leading to the development of scurvy and multiple other nutritional deficiencies. It highlights the importance of a balanced diet for children.

What important lessons can we learn from this case about diagnosing and preventing scurvy in children?

The case underscores the importance of considering nutritional deficiencies, even when initial symptoms suggest other potential causes. In this specific instance, the boy's oral lesions were initially suspected to be related to a prior facial injury, but further investigation revealed the underlying cause to be severe vitamin C deficiency. This also reinforces the need for awareness among parents, caregivers, and healthcare professionals about the risks associated with restrictive diets, and the importance of prompt diagnosis and treatment of scurvy.