Scurvy

Background

Scurvy is the nutritional deficiency of Vitamin C (Ascorbic acid). Vitamin C is typically foundin fruits and vegetables. Vitamin C is a cofactor for hydroxylation of proline and lysine amino acids in procollagen molecules, which is required for cross-linking collagen's triple helix. Scurvy therefore leads to unstable collagen and collagen fragility. This leads to the following:

• • leaking of vascular structures
    • gingival bleeding
    • petechiae
    • easy bruising

Vitamin C is also required for the disulfide bonding in hair. Deficiency will thus lead to the following:

• • Corkscrew appearance of hair.

Clinical Features

• Gingival bleeding
• Easy bruising
• Petechiae
• Corkscrew hair