Scurvy

A disorder caused by lack of vitamin C. Symptoms include anemia; soft, bleeding gums; and bumps under the skin near muscles. Scurvy in early childhood can cause musculoskeletal problems. Treatment is by including foods high in vitamin C in the diet, and vitamin C supplements if needed.

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A disease marked by inanition, debility, anemia, and edema of the dependent parts; a spongy condition sometimes with ulceration of the gums and loss of teeth, hemorrhages into the skin from the mucous membranes and internal organs, and poor wound healing; due to a diet lacking vitamin C. SYN: scorbutus, sea s.. [fr. A.S. scurf]

- Alpine s. SYN: pellagra.

- hemorrhagic s. s. with extensive hemorrhages in gums, skin, and other tissues, typical of severe stage of the disease.

- infantile s. osteopathia hemorrhagia infantum; a cachectic condition in infants, resulting from malnutrition and marked by pallor, fetid breath, coated tongue, diarrhea, and subperiosteal hemorrhages; probably a combination of s. and rickets due to combined deficiency of vitamins C and D. SYN: Barlow disease, Cheadle disease, osteopathia hemorrhagica infantum, s. rickets.

- land s. formerly, s. occurring in people who had not been to sea.

- sea s. SYN: s..

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scur·vy 'skər-vē n, pl scur·vies a disease caused by a lack of vitamin C and characterized by spongy gums, loosening of the teeth, and bleeding into the skin and mucous membranes called also scorbutus

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n.

a disease that is caused by a deficiency of vitamin C (ascorbic acid). Unlike most animals, humans cannot synthesize ascorbic acid and must obtain it from fresh fruit and vegetables. The first sign of scurvy is swollen bleeding gums, and a rash of tiny bleeding spots around the hair follicles is characteristic. This may be followed by subcutaneous bleeding and the opening of previously healed wounds. Scurvy may result from food faddism or alcoholism; elderly men who live alone are at special risk. Treatment with vitamin C soon reverses the effects.

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scur·vy (skurґve) [L. scorbutus] a condition due to deficiency of ascorbic acid (vitamin C) in the diet and marked by weakness, anemia, spongy gums, a tendency to mucocutaneous hemorrhages and a brawny induration of the muscles of the lower limbs.