Scurvy, caused by severe vitamin C deficiency, remains a potentially fatal condition if untreated. Though exceedingly rare in developed nations like France, recent medical reports underscore its ongoing relevance.
Historically dubbed the "sailor's plague," scurvy plagued maritime expeditions from the Renaissance through the 19th century. Long voyages left sailors malnourished, deprived of fresh produce, leading to this devastating illness triggered by profound vitamin C deficiency.
In advanced stages, scurvy causes loosening teeth, inflamed and bleeding gums, widespread hemorrhages, and ultimately death. While it has virtually vanished from industrialized countries, vulnerable populations in less stable regions remain at risk.
A June 2019 article in La Presse Médicale by Nice-based rheumatologists detailed three cases from August 2017 to January 2018: two women (aged 74 and 60) and one man (61). Symptoms varied—skin spots, anemia, joint effusions, gum inflammation, and loose teeth—but all shared a common cause: extreme vitamin C deficiency from inadequate diets.
Similar isolated incidents have surfaced in France recently, prompting physicians to emphasize that scurvy is a very real threat that never fully disappeared. Humans cannot synthesize vitamin C, so maintaining a diet rich in fruits and vegetables—citrus, strawberries, kiwis, peppers, cabbage, and leafy greens—is essential for prevention.
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