Even though scurvy, an immense deficiency in vitamin C, is not common anymore (think of the Mayflower days), but it still exists. According to the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, approximately 14% men and 10% woman have vitamin C deficiency. Fortunately, only a few progress to scurvy. In fact, between 1979 to 2005, only 57 people died of vitaminc C deficiency.

Symptoms include dark purplish spots on the skin (especially on the legs), spongy and bleeding gums, sunken eyes, opening of healed scars, nosebleeds, non-stop diarrhea, nail loss as well as other serious conditions such as psychosis, bleeding from mucous membranes and pallor.

Scurvy is easy and inexpensive to treat and prevent, but costly to diagnose. A wide range of tests can be administered, including a complete blood test, a comprehensive metabolic panel, tests for infectious diseases, such as HIV, an electrocardiogram, an echocardiogram, liver tests, several x-rays, and other tests seen fit by your Physician. It could be weeks or months before a proper diagnosis is made.

If you don’t like fruit, vegetables, or juice, (you will probably have other underlying illnesses) buy those Vicks vitamin C tablets; they taste just like candy. Or be a hippie and buy Vitamin water.

Source: American Medical News