An X-ray of sore joints or bones to

An X-ray of sore joints or bones to check for bone thinning, which is commonly seen in people with scurvy, may also be performed.</p> <h2>Types of treatment</h2> <p>Scurvy is treated by increasing the amount of vitamin C in your diet.
This can be in the form of fruits, particularly citrus fruits including oranges, lemons and limes.
Vegetables including spinach, cabbage, capsicum and broccoli are also high in vitamin C.</p> <p>To aid your treatment, your doctor may suggest that you take vitamin C supplement tablets for a short period.
With effective treatment, symptoms including bleeding into the skin and gums will stop within one to two days.
Aching limbs and tender joints may take a few weeks to heal.</p> <p>As part of the treatment process, it is important to manage any underlying conditions that are causing your vitamin C deficiency and scurvy.</p> <h3 style="color:#2d2d2d;font-style:italic;text-decoration:underline;"><strong><img alt="Many healthy foods, such as oranges, lemons and cabbage, contain vitamin C." src="https://d38okfhwhefcep.cloudfront.net/mediaLibrary/images/large/cif002_healthy_food_img_au.large.jpg" /></strong>Many fresh foods including fruit and vegetables contain vitamin C. </h3> <h2>Potential complications</h2> <p>Complications of scurvy can be serious, including anaemia, heart and lung problems, shock and death.
Scurvy can also affect bone growth in newborns and children.
A deficiency in vitamin C causes growth plates in bones to harden prematurely, leading to the stunting of height.</p> <p>Iron deficiency may occur in people with scurvy.
This is because vitamin C is required for the absorption of iron from your diet.
Your iron levels may be measured by a blood test while being tested for scurvy.</p> <h2>Prognosis</h2> <p>Scurvy is a condition caused by a prolonged deficiency in vitamin C, but is easily treated by increasing the amount of vitamin C in your diet.
The outlook is positive, with symptoms subsiding within days to weeks with generally no long-lasting effects.</p> <h2>Prevention</h2> <p>It is possible to prevent scurvy by having enough vitamin C in the diet.
It is best to eat plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables, as they not only contain vitamin C, but many other nutrients to keep you healthy.
Vitamin C supplements are also available if you are not getting enough from your diet.</p>
Scurvy is caused by a severe, long-term deficiency in vitamin C, also known as ascorbic acid.
It’s usually caused by malnutrition or another medical condition that prevents absorption of vitamin C by the body.
<h2>What is osteomalacia?</h2> <p>In order to make healthy bone, your body needs calcium and vitamin D. Osteomalacia is a condition in which your bones become soft because of a lack of calcium and phosphate, often due to not getting enough vitamin D.</p> <p>In children, whose bones are still growing, this condition is called rickets.</p> <p><img alt="In people with osteomalacia, a lack of calcium or phosphorus causes bones to become soft, tender, and prone to fracture." src="https://d38okfhwhefcep.cloudfront.net/mediaLibrary/images/large/en025_osteomalacia_img1_au_v2.large.jpg" /></p> <h3 style="color:#2d2d2d;font-style:italic;text-decoration:underline;">Bones in osteomalacia.</h3> <h2>Causes</h2> <p>Your body needs vitamin D in order to absorb calcium and phosphorus, which are both necessary for making strong, healthy bone.
When vitamin D, calcium or phosphorus levels are poor, bones can become soft and prone to fractures.</p> <p>Vitamin D is found in some foods, particularly fish and dairy products (see below for details).
However, in most people, vitamin D is produced by the body.
Skin cells make a precursor of vitamin D when exposed to sunlight.</p> <p>The precursors of vitamin D obtained from food and skin cells then get processed in the liver and kidneys to produce the active form of vitamin D.</p> <p><img alt="Precursors of vitamin D come from our skin cells in response to sunlight, and from certain types of food." src="https://d38okfhwhefcep.cloudfront.net/mediaLibrary/images/large/en025_osteomalacia_img2_au_v2.large.jpg" /></p> <h3 style="color:#2d2d2d;font-style:italic;text-decoration:underline;">Vitamin D synthesis in the body.</h3> <p>Most people have enough vitamin D by some combination of these two routes.