Revista da Sociedade Portuguesa de Dermatologia e Venereologia (Jan 2024)
Scurvy, a forgotten disease but still a reality: case report
Abstract
Scurvy is an uncommon disease nowadays but still presents in specific groups with hypovitaminosis. This article reports the case of an adolescent patient who started with non-specific symptoms and evolved with important systemic manifestations. The diagnosis of scurvy was not initially suspected and it was evaluated by several specialties. Several laboratory tests, imaging tests, myelograms, and biopsies were performed to exclude the differential diagnoses, until then, a serum vitamin C dosage was performed and its deficit was reported with subsequent replacement and resolution of the condition. This case demonstrates how important it is to remember this diagnosis, especially with the fundamental clues of cutaneous manifestations, such as perifollicular purpura, which are found in this disease.
