Scurvy: A difficult diagnosis with a simple cure
Introduction: Scurvy is an old disease, however in specific at risk populations it may present in current society. Case history: A 70-year old man with a painful, swollen leg with bruising for 2 weeks was treated in the Emergency Centre of a hospital in a poor community. His vital signs were within...
| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Elsevier
2012-03-01
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| Series: | African Journal of Emergency Medicine |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2211419X11001625 |
| Summary: | Introduction: Scurvy is an old disease, however in specific at risk populations it may present in current society.
Case history: A 70-year old man with a painful, swollen leg with bruising for 2 weeks was treated in the Emergency Centre of a hospital in a poor community. His vital signs were within normal ranges. He consumed an unbalanced and infrequent diet and more than 10-units of alcohol a day.
Discussion: Symptoms of scurvy may be vague, yet a thorough physical examination along with a comprehensive medical history should encourage physicians to suspect this disease. Scurvy is fatal if left untreated; however oral administration of vitamin C will return even severely affected patients to normal health within weeks. |
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| ISSN: | 2211-419X |