3. Scurvy
Scurvy is caused by a lack of vitamin C in your diet.
If your body doesn't have enough vitamin C, it can't produce new collagen (a
protein found in many different types of body tissue, including the skin and
bones). Without a new supply of collagen, the body's tissue will begin to
break down and deteriorate.
For scurvy to develop, there are usually other contributing factors, such as:
• alcohol misuse or drug dependency
• homelessness
• complex mental health conditions – such as severe depression or
schizophrenia
• being elderly and unable to maintain a healthy diet – for example, elderly
men who've recently been widowed and have little experience of cooking
for themselves can sometimes develop scurvy
• treatments that cause nausea as a side effect, such as chemotherapy, can
sometimes result in a person losing their appetite
• conditions that affect a person's ability to digest food – such as Crohn's
disease or ulcerative colitis
4. Symptoms Of Scurvy
In the UK, scurvy in children is relatively rare. It usually occurs
through a combination of parents being on a low income and
knowing little about nutrition. For example, in 2009, a case of
scurvy was reported in a child whose diet only consisted of bread
and jam.
Without vitamin C, collagen can't be replaced and the different
types of tissue break down, leading to the symptoms of scurvy.
These include:
• Muscle and joint pain
• Tiredness
• The appearance of red dots on the skin
• Bleeding and swelling of the gums
5. Treating Scurvy
A doctor will usually be able to diagnose scurvy by asking
about your symptoms and diet. They may also carry out a
blood test to measure the level of vitamin C in your
blood.
Treatment for scurvy is relatively straight forward. It
involves taking vitamin C supplements and eating food
that's high in vitamin C. This should quickly reverse the
harmful symptoms of scurvy.
The fact that a person has scurvy in the first place is
usually a sign that they're vulnerable or living a chaotic
lifestyle. Referral to a dietician, social worker or mental
healthcare professional may be required to prevent
further episodes of scurvy or other problems linked to
malnutrition.
6. Good sources of vitamin C
Fresh fruit and vegetables are some of the best sources of vitamin C,
including:
• Oranges
• Lemons
• Limes
• Grapefruits
• Blackcurrants
• Strawberries
• Kiwi fruits
• Tomatoes
• Broccoli
• Asparagus
• Cabbage
• Green peppers
• Sprouts
• Sweet potatoes
8. Malnutrition
Malnutrition happens when people lack nutrients, vitamins and minerals.
Not enough proteins can have negative effects on a person’s growth and lead
to physical problems. Vitamins are important for good health and the
functioning of your body. A lack of them can cause major problems. Vitamin
A deficiency may lead to eye problems and blindness. A lack of calcium leads
to a bad growth of bones and teeth.
Malnutrition increases the risk of diseases and weakens the immune system.
It affects the transmission of viruses, including HIV. It is especially
widespread among women, children and older people. Children can be at
risk even before birth because they depend on the mother’s nutrition.
Dietary changes are the main treatment for malnutrition. If you're
undernourished, you may need to increase the nutritional content of your
food, with or without taking nutritional supplements.
If you're unable to eat enough to meet your nutritional needs you may
need:
• A feeding tube to provide nutrients directly into your digestive system
• A drip to provide nutrients and fluids directly into a vein
9. Preventing Malnutrition
The best way to prevent malnutrition is to eat a healthy,
balanced diet.
A healthy, balanced diet is vital for maintaining health and
fitness. To stay healthy, you need to eat a variety of foods from
the four main food groups including:
• Plenty of fruit and vegetables
• Plenty of bread, rice, potatoes, pasta and other starchy foods
• Some milk and dairy foods
• Some meat, fish, eggs, beans and other non dairy sources of
protein
• The eat well plate shows the different types of food you need
to eat (and in what proportions) to maintain a well-balanced
and healthy diet.
