Resurgence of Scurvy in French Children Highlights Rising Malnutrition

A study reveals a 34.5% increase in scurvy cases among children since 2020, linked to worsening poverty and dietary deficiencies.

A study published in *The Lancet* identified 888 cases of scurvy among French children from 2015 to 2023, with an average patient age of 11 years.
The rate of scurvy cases rose by 34.5% between 2020 and 2023, with a 200% increase specifically among children aged 5 to 10 years.
Experts attribute the resurgence to growing socio-economic precarity, worsened by the COVID-19 pandemic, inflation, and economic fallout from global crises such as the war in Ukraine.
Scurvy, caused by severe vitamin C deficiency, leads to symptoms such as fatigue, bone pain, gum bleeding, and in severe cases, tooth loss, but it is treatable with proper nutrition and supplementation.
Researchers emphasize the need for urgent public health measures, including improved access to nutritious food, better education on healthy eating, and enhanced training for healthcare providers to identify and address nutritional deficiencies.