Nur Aisiyah Widjaja¹, Meta Hanindita¹, Tinuk Agung Meilany¹, Hafiza Amadhin Rusti¹
1- Universitas Airlangga/ Soetomo General Academic Hospital Surabaya, Indonesia
Abstract Body
Objective and study: A child’s response to essential nutrient deficiency is classified as Type I: reduced tissue concentration, specific clinical signs like Vitamin C deficiency causing scurvy , and Type II: reduced growth rate with signs of growth failure (undernutrition). As scurvy is rare, diagnosis is often overlooked due to its variable musculoskeletal, mucosal, dental and systemic manifestations. In developing countries with high undernutrition prevalence, awareness of scurvy is critical in malnourished children presenting with alarming clinical signs.
Methods: This retrospective study was performed from September 2024- 2025 at Soetomo General Hospital, Surabaya, Indonesia. Data extraction includes patient age, sex, anthropometric measurement, musculoskeletal, mucosal, anemia, radiographic examination, and ascorbic acid level. Descriptive statistical analysis was performed in this study .
Results: Fifteen scurvy patients were involved. Main complaints were pain in the lower extremities (60%), movement disorders (40%), gum bleeding/gingivitis (26.7%), knee swelling (6.7%), and oral ulcer (6.7%). Radiological findings included Frankel line (60%), Trümmerfeld zone (46.7%), Osteopenia (46.7%), soft tissue swelling (33.3%) Pelkan spur (33.3%), Wimbergers ring (26.7%), knee joint effusion (20%), and growth arrest line (6.7%). Anemia (73.3%) with mean haemoglobin 8.46 + 1.74 mg/ dl and mean ascorbic acid level of 0.14 + 0.06 mg/dl. Underweight/severely underweight (80%) with nutritional disturbances including underweightand stunted/severely stunted (46.7%). All patients responded to high-dose vitamin C supplementation.
Conclusions: Type I and Type II nutrient deficiencies can occur concurrently . Underweight and anemia are the most prevalent in pediatric scurvy .