A case of scurvy in Singapore in the year 2006

Mak WM, Thirumoorthy T
Correspondence: Dr Mak Wai Mun, makwaimun@yahoo.com.sg

ABSTRACT
Scurvy is an ancient disease. Over the years, with advances in the understanding of the disease, general improvement in health standards and nutrition, scurvy is now rarely encountered. The few cases of scurvy reported in the 21st century mainly occurred in the neglected elderly, alcoholics and food faddist. We describe scurvy due to food selection in a 37-year-old woman with underlying eating and obsessive-compulsive disorders. With vitamin C replacement, psychiatric medication and cognitive behavioural therapy, there was a dramatic improvement in her condition. This case serves as a reminder to the clinician that, even though rare in today's practice, ascorbic acid deficiency is still encountered, and when recognised, is an easily treatable disease.

Keywords: ascorbic acid deficiency, eating disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, scurvy
Singapore Med J 2007; 48(12): 1151–1155