Symptoms of scurvy

When hearing about scurvy, many friends may think of the Age of Exploration in Europe in the 15th century. At that time, people did not know about scurvy, and naturally did not know how to avoid and treat it, so many sailors died of scurvy. With the advancement of medical technology, people today already know the cause of scurvy, so they can effectively prevent and treat this terrible disease.

Scurvy is a fatal disease caused by a lack of vitamin C in the human body. The specific symptoms of scurvy are: patients feel general fatigue, physical weakness, general weakness, loss of appetite, pale complexion, swollen and bleeding gums, and in severe cases, teeth may become loose or even fall out. Subcutaneous bleeding, submucosal bleeding, ecchymosis of the skin, and excessive keratinization of hair follicles may also occur.

The symptoms of scurvy in children are: pseudoparalysis of the lower limbs due to subperiosteal hemorrhage, semi-flexion of the knee joint, external rotation of the foot, and even fractures in severe cases. If not treated in time, it can be life-threatening. Humans cannot synthesize vitamin C on their own and can only obtain it from the outside, that is, through food. Once the intake of vitamin C is continuously lacking, scurvy will occur.

Although some people consume vitamin C normally, they will lose a lot of vitamin C due to vomiting and diarrhea. Therefore, when the above situations occur, it is necessary to increase the intake of vitamin C. People usually get vitamin C by eating vegetables and fruits rich in vitamin C. Common vegetables such as cauliflower, bitter gourd, bell pepper, spinach, and purple cabbage are very rich in vitamin C.

Among the fruits we often eat, kiwi contains the most vitamin C and is known as the king of vitamin C. In addition, sour jujube, grapefruit and sea buckthorn are also fruits rich in vitamin C. As long as people can consume normal amounts of these fruits and vegetables on a daily basis, they can ensure that the vitamin C content in the body is at a normal level, which can naturally prevent the occurrence of scurvy.