Ascorbic acid deficiency: a case report

Scurvy is well known since ancient times, but it is rarely seen in the developed world today owing to the discovery of its link to the dietary deficiency of ascorbic acid. It is very uncommon in the pediatric population, and is usually seen in children with severely restricted diet attributable to psychiatric or developmental disturbances. The condition presents itself by the formation of perifollicular petechiae and bruising, gingival inflammation and bleeding, and, in children, bone disease. We report a case of scurvy in a 10-year-old developmentally delayed boy who had a diet markedly deficient in vitamin C resulting from extremely limited food choices. He presented with debilitating bone pain, inflammatory gingival disease, and perifollicular hyperkeratosis. The diagnosis was made based on clinical and radiographic findings. The importance of diet history is emphasized. We present this case with the aim to help the clinician identify scurvy and implement treatment for a potentially fatal but easily curable disease.