The ancient disease scurvy is shockingly making a comeback heres why

Arrrrrr you kidding?Scurvy, a vitamin C deficiency disease that plagued sailors and pirates centuries ago, appears to be re-emerging thanks to the rising cost of living and the popularity of weight loss surgery, a new study finds.“Scurvy is still seen as a disease of the past, especially in developed countries,” Australian doctors wrote Tuesday in the journal BMJ Case Reports.“However, sporadic cases of scurvy occur, especially in the elderly, patients with alcoholism and children with psychiatric or developmental problems.”The physicians, from Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital in western Australia, report the case of a 50-something unemployed ex-smoker who complained of a painful rash on both legs that seemingly came out of nowhere.Blood was found in his urine, and he was suffering from anemia, a low red blood cell count.ER personnel were a bit baffled as the unidentified man tested negative for inflammatory, autoimmune and blood disorders.

Scans revealed no evidence of internal bleeding, and a skin biopsy yielded no clues.Meanwhile, his rash spread while he was in the hospital, leading to more bruising, swelling and pain in both legs.Finally, a nutritional panel showed undetectable vitamin C levels and other nutritional deficiencies.The doctors learned that the Aussie’s “living circumstances were poor.”“He had financial constraints and therefore neglected his diet.His meals mostly comprised processed food, lacking in vegetables or fruit,” the case report read.

“Sometimes he would skip meals, which occurred more frequently in recent weeks.He had also stopped taking the vitamin and mineral supplements prescribed following gastric bypass surgery as he was unable to afford them.”Eight years prior, the patient had undergone a sleeve gastrectomy to remove a large portion of his stomach so he could lose weight.Upon his scurvy diagnosis, the man took 1,000 milligrams of vitamin C, 125 micrograms of vitamin D3, 5 milligrams of folic acid and a multivi...