Scurvy - a disease caused by severe and chronic deficiency of vitamin C. Many people today think that scurvy - a disease of the past, the days when sailors carried out for many months at sea without fresh fruit and vegetables. Although scurvy is rare today, people continue to sicken her. Each person in whose diet for some reason lacking vitamin C, is at risk. If the human diet totally absent Vitamin C (which is relatively rare), scurvy symptoms appear usually within four weeks of this diet.

Scurvy - a disease caused by severe and chronic deficiency of vitamin C. Many people today think that scurvy - a disease of the past, the days when sailors carried out for many months at sea without fresh fruit and vegetables. Although scurvy is rare today, people continue to sicken her. Each person in whose diet for some reason lacking vitamin C, is at risk. If the human diet totally absent Vitamin C (which is relatively rare), scurvy symptoms appear usually within four weeks of this diet.

The role of vitamin C:

• The formation of collagen. Collagen is essential for healthy skin, blood vessels and bones. The body uses collagen for wound healing; it is involved in many other processes.
• The antioxidant effect. One of the byproducts of oxygen metabolism are molecular compounds which are called free radicals. Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant Antioxidants: the truth about the notorious benefits   - It destroys free radicals, preventing the damage that they can cause the body's tissues.
• The absorption of iron. Vitamin C is necessary for the absorption of cancer, especially of non-heme iron (eforma iron contained in plant foods, such as legumes).
• The fight against infections. For normal operation of the immune system, particularly of its cells, lymphocytes, need adequate amounts of vitamin C.

Early symptoms of scurvy

To the first non-specific symptoms of scurvy include:

• General malaise
• Fatigue, lethargy
• Lack of appetite
• Sickness
• Diarrhea
• Fever
• Pain in joints and muscles
• Point bruising appearing at the roots of the hair

Often people take these signs of symptoms of colds or other diseases that are even without special treatment.

Symptoms of the late stages of development of scurvy

In the later stages of the disease appear more specific symptoms, such as:

• Inflammation and swelling of the gums, bleeding
• Loosening of the teeth
• Protruding eyes (exophthalmos)
• Bruising of the skin
• Dry, scaly, brownish skin
• Very dry hair Dry hair: how to restore hair vitality? Which are cut and breaks the skin close to the surface
• Bleeding into joints and muscles, and as a result, the formation of edema
• Premature cessation of bone growth (children and adolescents)

Complications scurvy

In children and adolescents, scurvy can result in premature termination of, or significant slowdown in growth. People of any age can cause anemia, scurvy, heart attack and death.

Risk factors

Scurvy are at risk are people who neglect their diet on a regular basis - for example, those who abuse alcohol or illicit drugs, as well as the mentally ill. Those who can not eat properly for socioeconomic reasons, also are at risk for the disease scurvy.

In addition, there is a risk of the disease scurvy among those who for a long time adhere to a very strict diet, as well as those suffering from eating disorders - anorexia and bulimia. Limitations of the diet because of allergies, and smoking is a much lesser extent, but still increase the risk of scurvy.

Diagnostics

To diagnose scurvy doctor first conducting a medical examination, examines the personal history of the patient and asks details about his eating habits. Then, do a blood test to determine the level of vitamin C and iron in the blood. Using X-rays reveal joint damage.

Treatment

Scurvy is treated relatively easily - especially in cases where it has not yet developed serious complications. Patients received supplementation Food additives - basic classification   Vitamin C (normally at least 250 mg of vitamin C per day). In such treatment the bleeding gums How to prevent bleeding gums: important rules   usually resolves within twenty-four hours, and pain in muscles and joints - several weeks.

If the main cause of scurvy are eating disorders, may need long-term treatment, including psychotherapy.

It's hard to find another disease that causes so much pain, trouble and so are reluctant to treat as stomatitis. The child is restless, irritable, constantly cries, refuses to eat, and in severe cases, from drinking - as a result, loses weight, strength, and mood. Anxiety increases the mother, she turns to the doctor. And quite rightly so.

Anatomical and physiological data

Roth - the beginning of the digestive and respiratory tracts. It is a gateway to the human body. Oral mucosa performs an important protective function, and is a mirror that reflects the problems in the body, particularly the gastrointestinal tract.

In the mouth perfectly get different kinds of microorganisms. At a high level of immunity and mucosal integrity, they can not show their pathogenic properties. However, everything changes when conditions are favorable for microbial growth - reduced resistance of the organism, or violated the integrity of the mucosa.

Stomatitis, its types

Stomatitis - a generic name of diseases of the oral mucosa. There are many, mostly in young children occur thrush (thrush), and canker-ulcerative stomatitis.

When viewed from the mouth of the child with thrush Stomatitis - to breath fresh   detected a bright redness of the mucous, against which you can see a white-yellow cheesy plaque that resembles curdled milk. The degree of its prevalence depends on the severity of the disease. In the initial stages of plaque can be easily removed without leaving a bleeding surface. In later stages, after the removal of plaque are bleeding wounds.

Aphthous stomatitis ulcerative characterized by the appearance of defects in the mucous membrane in the form of round-shaped sores with smooth edges or edges with red trim, covered with yellow-gray patina. If you try to separate the coating formed from bleeding mucosa defects.

In infants stomatitis causes changes in general health. Can increase the body temperature to febrile digits, changing the composition of the peripheral blood.

Treatment: Stomatitis

If you suspect that the development of stomatitis in the young child must apply to the children's dentist or pediatrician as treatment for various forms of stomatitis is different. Improper treatment leads to a weighting process and extend the agony.

Young children are usually admitted to the hospital profile, as their state of health is significantly affected. Treatment should be complex: it is necessary to apply sparing painkillers to restore the possibility of meals.

• Foods should be soft and non-irritating. Optimally - breast milk if the baby is bottle-fed, then leave well cooked milk or liquid porridge. Food should be warm.
• Held local treatment consisting in irrigation oral cavity with antiseptic solutions (for example, 5% solution of soda) up to six times a day and lubricate affected areas with special gels, which have antimicrobial and analgesic effect at the same time.
• Depending on the cause of the disease the doctor can prescribe special medicines, such as anti-fungal or general treatment - desensitizing, anti-bacterial and restorative agent.
• It must be remembered that stomatitis highly contagious, so spoons, pacifiers, utensils must be frequently thoroughly boiled.

With proper therapy, complete recovery occurs on the tenth - fourteenth day of the onset of the disease. Improper treatment can delay the process for months.

Preventing stomatitis begins immediately after birth and is to ensure proper nutrition Proper nutrition - the basic precepts of healthy food , Increase immunity Immunity - types and characteristics in children in adults   and compliance with health standards.

Svetlana Shimkovich