Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 27, 2025

Laparoscopic Splenectomy with Pericardial Devascularization for Hypersplenism and Esophageal Variceal Hemorrhage Due to Portal Hypertension
04:00

Laparoscopic Splenectomy with Pericardial Devascularization for Hypersplenism and Esophageal Variceal Hemorrhage Due to Portal Hypertension

Published on: November 15, 2024

256

Scurvy in a Pediatric Patient Unable to Bear Weight: A Case Report

Aleena Jafri1, Olayinka Edwards2, Puneet Gupta3

  • 1Pediatrics, State University of New York (SUNY) at Buffalo Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Buffalo, USA.

Cureus
|June 9, 2023
PubMed

Insights

Pediatric scurvy, though rare, can occur in children with restricted diets. Early diagnosis and ascorbic acid treatment significantly improved a young boy

Area of Science:

  • Pediatrics
  • Nutritional Deficiencies
  • Infectious Diseases

Background:

  • Pediatric scurvy is rare in the 21st century.
  • Cases are often associated with neurodevelopmental issues and highly restricted diets.
  • Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has been linked to various pediatric health complications.

Observation:

  • A two-year-old boy with a history of COVID-19 presented with refusal to walk.
  • Detailed history revealed a restricted diet, speech delay, and gum bleeding.
  • Clinical presentation was suggestive of scurvy.

Findings:

  • Extremely low ascorbic acid levels confirmed the diagnosis of scurvy.
  • Scurvy was diagnosed prior to the diagnosis of any neurodevelopmental delay.
  • Treatment with ascorbic acid led to significant symptom improvement.

Implications:

  • Highlights the importance of thorough patient history and correlating examination findings.
  • Suggests considering scurvy in the differential diagnosis for pediatric patients presenting with inability to bear weight.
  • Underscores the need for nutritional assessment in children with restricted diets and unusual symptoms, even post-infection.

Keywords:
gum bleedingmyositisneurodevelopmentalnon-weightbearingrefusal to walkrestricted dietscurvyspeech delayvascular lesionsvitamin c deficiency

More Related Videos

Scanning Skeletal Remains for Bone Mineral Density in Forensic Contexts07:56

Scanning Skeletal Remains for Bone Mineral Density in Forensic Contexts

Published on: January 29, 2018

17.6K
Continuous Manual Exchange Transfusion for Patients with Sickle Cell Disease: An Efficient Method to Avoid Iron Overload05:23

Continuous Manual Exchange Transfusion for Patients with Sickle Cell Disease: An Efficient Method to Avoid Iron Overload

Published on: March 14, 2017

19.6K

Related Concept Videos

Bone Disorders01:29

Bone Disorders

Aging and its effect on bone remodeling is the most common cause of bone disorders. In young and healthy people, bone deposition and resorption happen at an equal rate to maintain optimal bone health.
Bone deposition is also affected by the levels of sex hormones like estrogen and testosterone that promote osteoblast activity and bone matrix synthesis. When the level of these hormones decreases due to aging, it causes a reduction in bone deposition. As a result, bone resorption by osteoclasts...
3.7K
Vitamins01:30

Vitamins

Vitamins, derived from the Latin word for life, are essential organic substances required in small quantities for optimal growth and overall well-being. Unlike other organic nutrients, vitamins don't act as sources of energy or building materials but rather facilitate these nutrients' utilization by the body. Vitamins are predominantly coenzymes, assisting enzymes in specific chemical actions, like the oxidation of glucose for energy involving B vitamins. Most vitamins are not produced...
826
Esophageal Strictures-II: Clinical Features and Management01:26

Esophageal Strictures-II: Clinical Features and Management

Patients with esophageal strictures often experience a range of symptoms. Initially, they may have difficulty swallowing solid foods, which can progress to include liquids. Additional symptoms may involve chest pain or discomfort, regurgitating food and fluids, heartburn, unintentional weight loss, coughing or choking during meals, and hoarseness.
Healthcare providers should gather a comprehensive medical history and conduct a physical examination for diagnosis. If esophageal stricture is...
114
Esophageal Strictures-I: Introduction01:30

Esophageal Strictures-I: Introduction

Esophageal strictures involve abnormal narrowing or tightening of the esophagus. They vary in length and severity, ranging from mild constriction to complete obstruction, and are classified as benign (noncancerous) or malignant (cancerous).
Etiology
The primary cause of esophageal strictures is long-standing gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), accounting for about 70 to 80% of adult cases. Chronic acid reflux can lead to injury and scarring of the esophageal lining, culminating in...
179
Inborn Errors of Metabolism01:20

Inborn Errors of Metabolism

Phenylketonuria (PKU) is a protein metabolism disorder characterized by high blood levels of the amino acid phenylalanine. This results from a mutation in the gene responsible for phenylalanine hydroxylase, an enzyme that converts phenylalanine into tyrosine. When this enzyme is deficient, phenylalanine builds up in the blood, leading to symptoms such as vomiting, rashes, seizures, growth deficiency, and severe mental retardation. An early diagnosis and a diet restricting phenylalanine intake...
207
Acute Kidney Injury VI: Nursing Management01:22

Acute Kidney Injury VI: Nursing Management

Acute Kidney Injury (AKI) results in an inability to maintain fluid, electrolyte, and acid-base balance. Effective nursing management is critical in improving patient outcomes and includes comprehensive patient assessment and targeted interventions.Comprehensive Patient AssessmentA detailed history collection is essential, focusing on any recent infections, nephrotoxic medication use, or chronic conditions such as hypertension and diabetes that may contribute to AKI. During the physical...
37