Scurvy.

The article focuses on a clinical case of scurvy, a disease caused by vitamin C deficiency, in a 50-year-old man presenting with spontaneous leg bruising and other symptoms such as perifollicular hemorrhage, coiled hairs, gingival bleeding, and anemia. The patient's diet, consisting mainly of rice and raw eggs for three years, lacked vitamin C, leading to a plasma vitamin C level below the normal range and the diagnosis of scurvy. Treatment with daily vitamin C supplementation rapidly improved his symptoms and vitamin C levels. The report emphasizes that although scurvy is rare in developed countries, it should be considered in patients with unexplained bruising and poor dietary history, as untreated scurvy can be fatal.