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D53.2 Scurvy – ICD-10 Code Vitamin C Deficiency
D53.2 is the ICD-10 code for scurvy, a disease caused by severe vitamin C deficiency. It leads to bleeding tendencies, gum damage, and impaired wound healing.
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D53.2 is the ICD-10 code for scurvy, a disease caused by severe vitamin C deficiency. It leads to bleeding tendencies, gum damage, and impaired wound healing.
What does the ICD-10 code D53.2 mean?
The ICD-10 code D53.2 refers to scurvy (Scorbutus), a nutritional deficiency disease caused by severe vitamin C (ascorbic acid) deficiency. This code belongs to the group D50–D53, which covers nutritional anaemias and deficiency conditions. Scurvy was historically known as a sailors' disease but still occurs today in specific at-risk populations.
Causes
Scurvy develops when the body receives insufficient amounts of vitamin C over an extended period. Since the human body cannot synthesize vitamin C on its own, it must be obtained entirely through diet. Common causes include:
- Diets with very little fruit and vegetables
- Poverty and food insecurity
- Alcohol dependency and associated nutritional deficits
- Chronic conditions causing malabsorption (e.g., Crohn's disease, coeliac disease)
- Severely restricted diets
- Homelessness
Symptoms
Clinical signs of scurvy typically appear after several months of inadequate vitamin C intake (usually 1–3 months). Common symptoms include:
- Bleeding tendency: Petechiae (small bleeding spots) in the skin and mucous membranes
- Gum changes: Swollen, painful, and easily bleeding gums
- Loosening and loss of teeth
- Impaired wound healing: Previously healed wounds may reopen
- Fatigue, weakness, and general malaise
- Joint pain and muscle weakness
- Corkscrew-shaped body hair (a characteristic sign)
- In children: disruption of normal bone growth
Diagnosis
The diagnosis D53.2 (scurvy) is made clinically and confirmed by laboratory investigations:
- Clinical examination: Typical presentation with skin bleeding and gum changes
- Blood count: Anaemia may be present
- Plasma vitamin C levels: Values below 11 µmol/l indicate deficiency; below 6 µmol/l indicate severe deficiency
- X-rays: Used in children to assess bone changes
- Dietary history: Assessment of eating habits and lifestyle
Treatment
Scurvy responds well to targeted vitamin C supplementation:
- Vitamin C supplementation: Therapeutic doses of 500–1000 mg of ascorbic acid per day are commonly recommended until symptoms resolve
- Dietary changes: Increasing consumption of vitamin C-rich foods such as bell peppers, citrus fruits, and broccoli
- Symptoms typically improve significantly within days to weeks
- In severe cases, intravenous administration may be required
Recommended Daily Intake of Vitamin C
The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends a minimum daily intake of 45 mg of vitamin C for adults. Health authorities in many countries, such as the UK NHS and the US National Institutes of Health, recommend higher intakes of 65–90 mg per day. Smokers have increased requirements due to higher oxidative stress.
References
- World Health Organization (WHO): Scurvy and its prevention and control in major emergencies. WHO/NHD/99.11, Geneva, 1999.
- Schleicher RL et al.: Serum vitamin C and the prevalence of vitamin C deficiency in the United States. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 2009; 90(5): 1252–1263.
- Carr AC, Maggini S: Vitamin C and Immune Function. Nutrients, 2017; 9(11): 1211. doi:10.3390/nu9111211.
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