Scurvy, a serious and rare form of avitaminosis, easily diagnosed and treated. Presentation of a case
Gil Llano, J.R.; Grespo Rincón, L.; Ruiz Llano, F.C.; Costo Campoamor, A.; Mateos Polo, L.; González, M.A.
Anales de Medicina Interna 12(9): 450-452
1995
ISSN/ISBN: 0212-7199 PMID: 8924552 Document Number: 443351
We report a 66 years-old man case that was admitted with abdominal wall hemorrhagic swelling ecchymosis on inferior extremities and perifollicular purpura with hyperkeratosis of the follicles, which gives it an appearance of palpable purpura, together with gingival hemorrhage and moderate anemia. He was a well-nourished sick man but who made a peculiar diet, practically free from fruit and vegetables which developed a pure and serious form of scurvy. We report this case because we consider that the features which appear are illustrative to provide the immediate clinical diagnosis of this uncommon disease, potentially mortal, but easy to diagnose, if we think about it in the adequate clinical contexts, and which it is quickly curable with the administration of ascorbic acid.