A good growth in a child with scurvy.
We report on a 13-month-old boy who experienced pain while mobilising, and had bruising and swelling of the lower limbs. Laboratory examinations revealed anaemia and skeletal x-rays showed irregularity and thickening of the provisional zones of calcification of lower and upper limbs. The boy had been fed with only goat milk, homogenised meat, fruits and vegetables, all of which had been boiled together. Forty-eight hours after starting oral vitamin C supplementation, the patient showed dramatic clinical improvement. The clinical presentation, laboratory and imaging findings, together with the good response to vitamin C intake, allowed us to confirm the diagnosis of infantile scurvy. Scurvy is a disease that can be found among children, especially among groups with restrictive eating pattern. Fortunately, once diagnosed, scurvy is an easily treatable disease by administration of vitamin C and a correct diet that is rich in fruits, vegetables and fresh meat, all of which contained vitamin C.
Department of Pediatrics, Ospedale Bambino Gesù, Rome, Italy. diletta.valentini@opbg.net
Diletta
D
Valentini
Domenico
D
Barbuti
Annalisa
A
Grandin
Laura Tanturri
LT
De Horatio
Alberto
A
Villani
D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006128:Growth; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D012614:Scurvy / Q000188:drug therapy*; D014815:Vitamins / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D014815:Vitamins; D001205:Ascorbic Acid