Bruising, bleeding gums, weakness, fatigue and rash are among scurvy symptoms.

Scurvy is the name for a vitamin C deficiency. It can lead to anemia, debility, exhaustion, spontaneous bleeding, pain in the limbs, and especially the legs, swelling in some parts of the body, and sometimes ulceration of the gums and loss of teeth.

Scurvy has been known since ancient Greek and Egyptian times. It is often associated with sailors in the 15th to 18th centuries, when long sea voyages made it hard to get a steady supply of fresh produce. Many died from the effects.

It also occurred during the Irish potato famine in 1845 and the American Civil War. The most recent documented outbreak was in Afghanistan in 2002, following war and a drought.

Modern cases of scurvy are rare, especially in places where enriched breads and cereals are available, but itcan still affectpeople who do not consume enoughvitaminC.

Fast facts about scurvy:

Here are some key points about scurvy. More detail is in the main article.

Symptoms of scurvy result from severe vitamin C deficiency.

They include bleeding sores, tooth loss,anemia, and a reduced rate of healing for injuries.

It can be fatal if left untreated.

Scurvy is treatable with oral or intravenous vitamin C supplements.

What is scurvy?

Scurvy happenswhen there isa lack of vitamin C, or ascorbic acid. The deficiency leads to symptoms of weakness, anemia,gum disease, and skin problems.

This is because vitamin C is needed for makingcollagen, an important component in connective tissues. Connective tissues are essential for structure and support in the body, including the structure of blood vessels.

A lack of vitamin C will also affect the immune system, absorption of iron, metabolism ofcholesteroland other functions.