Historic illness strikes again: Cost-of-living crisis unearths convict-era disease in Aussie patient!
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In a surprising twist, a rare disease from centuries past has been detected in Australia, adding to the nation's growing health concerns.
This unexpected diagnosis has raised alarms among medical professionals and the public alike, especially amid ongoing economic challenges.
The resurgence of this ancient illness highlights the importance of vigilance and healthcare awareness in these challenging times.
A middle-aged man from Western Australia has been diagnosed with scurvy, a condition rarely seen in developed countries, where access to a variety of foods typically prevents such deficiencies.
The case, reported in the British Medical Journal, has sent ripples through the medical community and beyond, highlighting the stark reality that even in a country as prosperous as Australia, there are individuals who are struggling to meet their basic nutritional needs.
The WA man's plight is a stark illustration of how financial hardship can lead to severe health consequences.
‘He tested negative for inflammatory, auto-immune and blood disorders, and scans revealed no evidence of internal bleeding,’ the BMJ stated.
‘His rash continued to spread while he was in hospital, and further questioning revealed that he was short of cash and neglected his diet, eating little in the way of fruit and vegetables.’
‘He said that he sometimes skipped meals altogether. He had also stopped taking the nutritional supplements prescribed for him after previous weight loss surgery because he said he couldn’t afford them,’ the report continued.
‘Blood tests to assess his general nutritional status indicated no detectable levels of vitamin C and very low levels of other key nutrients.’
‘He was diagnosed with scurvy and treated with daily vitamin C (1000 mg), vitamin D3, folic acid and multivitamin supplements, after which his painful rash and other symptoms cleared up,’ the journal added.
Scurvy, a disease caused by a lack of vitamin C, is often associated with the bygone era of sailors who spent months at sea without fresh produce.
The symptoms can be debilitating and, if left untreated, potentially fatal.
The resurgence of such a disease in a developed nation like Australia is a clear sign that the cost-of-living pressures are more than just economic statistics; they have real and severe impacts on individuals' health.
The BMJ report also noted that other ‘risk factors’ in the patient might have contributed to the onset of the disease.
‘Our patient had multiple risk factors, namely, poor dietary habits, obesity, previous bariatric surgery, use of proton pump inhibitors and low-income status,’ the report mentioned.
‘His history of iron, vitamin D and folate deficiencies were also clues to his underlying nutritional deficiency.’
Other risk factors for scurvy include alcoholism, smoking, eating disorders, low household income, obesity, kidney dialysis, and medications that interfere with vitamin C absorption, such as steroids and acid-reducing drugs.
The BMJ noted that the prevalence of scurvy in the community is ‘not clear’.
Australia's cost-of-living crisis in recent years has resulted from a combination of rising interest rates, energy costs, and broader inflationary pressures.
Supply chain disruptions due to COVID-19 and the Ukraine War in 2022 led to sharp price increases across various goods and services, prompting central banks to raise rates to control inflation.
Despite these pressures, which have reduced Australians' spending power, economic and employment growth has remained robust.
As Australia grapples with the resurgence of rare diseases and the ongoing cost-of-living crisis, it's more important than ever to consider our overall health and well-being.
This situation brings into focus the role of nutrition and supplements in our daily lives.
Recent studies have shed new light on the impact of multivitamins on longevity, revealing surprising findings that could influence how we approach our health amidst these challenging times.
We encourage our members to share their thoughts and experiences on this issue. Have you or someone you know faced challenges in accessing nutritious food due to financial constraints? What solutions or support do you think could help address this problem? Join the conversation below, and let's discuss how we can work together to prevent the re-emergence of diseases like scurvy in our communities.
This unexpected diagnosis has raised alarms among medical professionals and the public alike, especially amid ongoing economic challenges.
The resurgence of this ancient illness highlights the importance of vigilance and healthcare awareness in these challenging times.
A middle-aged man from Western Australia has been diagnosed with scurvy, a condition rarely seen in developed countries, where access to a variety of foods typically prevents such deficiencies.
The case, reported in the British Medical Journal, has sent ripples through the medical community and beyond, highlighting the stark reality that even in a country as prosperous as Australia, there are individuals who are struggling to meet their basic nutritional needs.
The WA man's plight is a stark illustration of how financial hardship can lead to severe health consequences.
A rare case of scurvy has been diagnosed in a middle-aged man in Western Australia. Credit: Shutterstock
‘He tested negative for inflammatory, auto-immune and blood disorders, and scans revealed no evidence of internal bleeding,’ the BMJ stated.
‘His rash continued to spread while he was in hospital, and further questioning revealed that he was short of cash and neglected his diet, eating little in the way of fruit and vegetables.’
‘He said that he sometimes skipped meals altogether. He had also stopped taking the nutritional supplements prescribed for him after previous weight loss surgery because he said he couldn’t afford them,’ the report continued.
‘Blood tests to assess his general nutritional status indicated no detectable levels of vitamin C and very low levels of other key nutrients.’
‘He was diagnosed with scurvy and treated with daily vitamin C (1000 mg), vitamin D3, folic acid and multivitamin supplements, after which his painful rash and other symptoms cleared up,’ the journal added.
Scurvy, a disease caused by a lack of vitamin C, is often associated with the bygone era of sailors who spent months at sea without fresh produce.
The symptoms can be debilitating and, if left untreated, potentially fatal.
The resurgence of such a disease in a developed nation like Australia is a clear sign that the cost-of-living pressures are more than just economic statistics; they have real and severe impacts on individuals' health.
The BMJ report also noted that other ‘risk factors’ in the patient might have contributed to the onset of the disease.
‘Our patient had multiple risk factors, namely, poor dietary habits, obesity, previous bariatric surgery, use of proton pump inhibitors and low-income status,’ the report mentioned.
‘His history of iron, vitamin D and folate deficiencies were also clues to his underlying nutritional deficiency.’
Other risk factors for scurvy include alcoholism, smoking, eating disorders, low household income, obesity, kidney dialysis, and medications that interfere with vitamin C absorption, such as steroids and acid-reducing drugs.
The BMJ noted that the prevalence of scurvy in the community is ‘not clear’.
Australia's cost-of-living crisis in recent years has resulted from a combination of rising interest rates, energy costs, and broader inflationary pressures.
Supply chain disruptions due to COVID-19 and the Ukraine War in 2022 led to sharp price increases across various goods and services, prompting central banks to raise rates to control inflation.
Despite these pressures, which have reduced Australians' spending power, economic and employment growth has remained robust.
As Australia grapples with the resurgence of rare diseases and the ongoing cost-of-living crisis, it's more important than ever to consider our overall health and well-being.
This situation brings into focus the role of nutrition and supplements in our daily lives.
Recent studies have shed new light on the impact of multivitamins on longevity, revealing surprising findings that could influence how we approach our health amidst these challenging times.
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