Arrrrrr you kidding? Scurvy, a vitamin C deficiency disease that plagued sailors and pirates centuries ago, appears to be re-emerging thanks to the rising cost of living and the popularity of weight loss surgery , a new study finds . “Scurvy is still seen as a disease of the past, especially in developed countries,” Australian doctors wrote Tuesday in the journal BMJ Case Reports . “However, sporadic cases of scurvy occur, especially in the elderly, patients with alcoholism and children with psychiatric or developmental problems.
” The physicians, from Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital in western Australia, report the case of a 50-something unemployed ex-smoker who complained of a painful rash on both legs that seemingly came out of nowhere. Blood was found in his urine, and he was suffering from anemia, a low red blood cell count. ER personnel were a bit baffled as the unidentified man tested negative for inflammatory, autoimmune and blood disorders.
Scans revealed no evidence of internal bleeding, and a skin biopsy yielded no clues. Meanwhile, his rash spread while he was in the hospital, leading to more bruising, swelling and pain in both legs. Finally, a nutritional panel showed undetectable vitamin C levels and other nutritional deficiencies .
The doctors learned that the Aussie’s “living circumstances were poor.” “He had financial constraints and therefore neglected his diet. His meals mostly comprised processed food , lacking in vegetables or fruit,” the c.