[Scurvy in children].

Abstract

The authors report two cases of scurvy in two encephalopathic 3 year-old girls. The first case was misleading and was initially operated with the diagnosis of osteomyelitis. The second one presented with bleeding syndrome and subperiosteal hemorrhage. The diagnosis of scurvy was based upon deficient diet, clinical features, and periosteal cleavage at ultrasonographic evaluation. Treatment with ascorbic acid, 400 mg/d, led to a complete resolution of the clinical features. The authors emphasize the misleading features of scurvy at bone ultrasonographic evaluation and recommend a supplementation with ascorbic acid of children with severe mental retardation.