Why do people suffer from scurvy? Scurvy: conditions of occurrence, complications, treatment

The risk of getting sick with scurvy (scurvy) did not disappear anywhere. However, in our time scurvy is extremely rare. Since the disease has become a category of rare pathologies, many of us are interested in why people suffer from scurvy and what is scurvy disease?

What is scurvy. Causes of scurvy

A person who does not receive for four weeks with the supply of ascorbic acid develops a severe avitaminosis, which goes to scurvy. The disease flows against the background of a complete lack of vitamin C in the body or with its extreme shortage (critically low concentrations). The total lack of this substance disrupts the synthesis of a special protein - collagen.

The difference between collagen and how strong the walls of blood vessels and the elastic connective tissues will be. A persistent vitamin C deficiency leads to negative changes in the structure of the cartilage, destruction of the tubular bones, impaired bone marrow function, atrophy of the bone dental bed.

Other types of avitaminosis lead to scurvy. For example, the disease develops with rickets, which is accompanied by a lack of vitamins from group B and folic acid. Here are the reasons why people suffer from scurvy.

Symptoms of scurvy

Symptoms of scurvy begin to manifest with a persistent acute shortage of vitamin C, lasting for 1-3 months. The person suffers from weakness, fatigue, dizziness. He has irritability, drowsiness, pain in the joints. From the pain suffer calf muscles.

However, these signs are not immediately attributed to specific symptoms of scurvy. They are only grounds for suspecting the development of pathology. The diagnosis is confirmed if the patient has a history of long-term malnutrition or fasting, and also problems with absorption of nutrients in the intestine (another reason why people suffer from scurvy).

Patients with scurvy have a peculiar appearance. The surface of the skin is bumpy (the tubercles form hemorrhages in the hair sacs). Skin color - yellow-brown. Articular pains lead them to a specific gait. There are people burdened with scurvy, bending their knees.

Development of scurvy

Regardless of why people suffer from scurvy, progressive scurvy is expressed by characteristic changes in the tissues of the gums. The special pallor, which appeared on the mucous membranes, is replaced by cyanosis. The interdental papillae undergo changes. The gums are bleeding.

The tissue in the foci of lesions becomes denser, acquires dark maroon shades. It shows signs of internal hemorrhages. Teeth are surrounded by blue-purple spongy formations that form bleeding cushions. A person experiences pain when chewing. Abundant salivation gives him considerable discomfort.

Complicated scurvy

Severely current scurvy concomitant secondary infection, which is expressed by an unpleasant odor in the oral cavity, ulcers, reeling and tooth loss. The disease is accompanied by extensive hemorrhages occurring in the subcutaneous tissue, conjunctiva, muscle thickness, periosteum, in the tissues surrounding the joints. In the hemorrhage region, hematomas are formed. They, hardening, cause pain and complicate the movement of a person.

Hemorrhages are found not only in external tissues, but also in internal organs. They are typical for the pleura, kidneys, lungs, intestines, stomach. Patients suffer hemoptysis, bloody vomiting and hematuria. They are depressed heart work, secretory and motor function of the digestive tract, anemia appears, the spleen and liver are enlarged.

Treatment of scurvy

When the diagnosis of "scurvy" is diagnosed, the conditions of occurrence, complications, treatment of the disease are determined, and the patient is carefully taken care of. The basis of treatment for scurvy - diet therapy. The patient's diet is based on food enriched with vitamin C: fresh vegetables, fruits, juices, berries. When the condition is started, ascorbic acid is injected or dripped.

With inflammation in the mouth, its cavity is treated with solutions of manganese and hydrogen peroxide, vitamin A in oil. With difficult joint mobility, physiotherapeutic procedures are prescribed: mud, massage, hydrotherapy sessions, exercise therapy. If in answering the question why people suffer from scurvy, the main causes of the disease are anemia, vitamin B _{12 is} prescribed in combination with iron preparations.

Prophylaxis of scurvy

Why do people no longer suffer from scurvy? It's all about the correct and very simple prevention of the disease. High-grade food - a panacea for scurvy. Particular attention is paid to the quality of nutrition in the winter-spring period, when the products lose part of the vitamin C, and the immunity is weakened.

Avoid scurvy fruits, vegetables and berries in fresh, canned, dried and frozen form. If the supply of ascorbic acid is insufficient, it is recommended to take complex vitamin preparations containing it.