title: Scurvy extinct? Think again!
abstract: Scurvy is still seen sporadically in the developed world. Scurvy, a dietary disease due to the deficient intake of vitamin C, is uncommon in the pediatric population. Scurvy occurs as a result of decreased vitamin C consumption or absorption. We present the case of a 6-year-old boy visiting our department with bleeding gums, musculoskeletal pain, and weakness. Four days after starting oral vitamin C supplementation, there was significant improvement in the patient's gingival appearance and general health. The clinical presentation and laboratory investigation (Hemoglobin %, total blood picture) , together with the dramatic therapeutic response to ascorbic acid administration, confirmed the diagnosis of scurvy. Scurvy can be missed unless oral and general physicians maintain a high index of suspicion. Therefore it is time to wonder if scurvy is extinct yet.
authors.affiliation: Associate Professor, Department of Oral Medicine and Radiology, Jaipur Dental College, Jaipur, Rajasthan, India.
authors.forename: Vela D
authors.initials: VD
authors.lastname: Desai
authors.affiliation: Postgraduate Student, Department of Oral Medicine and Radiology, Jaipur Dental College, Jaipur, Rajasthan, India.
authors.forename: Shweta
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hegde
authors.affiliation: Principal, Professor and Head, Department of Oral Medicine and Radiology, Jaipur Dental College, Jaipur, Rajasthan, India.
authors.forename: Durgesh N
authors.initials: DN
authors.lastname: Bailoor
authors.affiliation: Assistant Professor, Department of Oral Medicine and Radiology, Jaipur Dental College, Jaipur, Rajasthan, India.
authors.forename: Neelkant
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Patil
keywords: Diet; gingival enlargement.; gingival hemorrhage; scurvy; vitamin C deficiency