A 12-Year-Old Boy With Petechiae, Arthralgias, And Muscle Weakness

    January 2024 in “ Pediatric Dermatology ”
    Grace DeSena, Lauren G. Yi, Amrit Singh, Margaret Sande, Bridget Bryer
    TLDR The boy's scurvy symptoms improved with vitamin C treatment, highlighting the need for a balanced diet.
    A 12-year-old boy with a poor diet and untreated ADHD presented with symptoms of scurvy, including petechiae, arthralgias, muscle weakness, and corkscrew hairs. His diet lacked fruits and vegetables, leading to a severe vitamin C deficiency (<0.1 mg/dL). After starting treatment with ascorbic acid, vitamin B12, and a multivitamin, his symptoms improved significantly within 2 weeks. Scurvy results from prolonged vitamin C deficiency, which is crucial for collagen synthesis. The case highlights the importance of a balanced diet and the potential for scurvy even in developed countries due to restrictive eating habits.
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