9-year-old contracts scurvy due to severe vitamin C deficiency

A 9.5-year-old boy on the autism spectrum contracted scurvy due to a severe vitamin C deficiency, after years of a monotonous diet without fruits and vegetables. He began limping and ended up in a wheelchair. At Schneider Children's Medical Center, he was diagnosed and treated with vitamin C, and returned to walking within about a month. His condition improved to about 85%.

Nadav, a 9.5-year-old diagnosed on the autism spectrum, contracted scurvy due to a severe vitamin C deficiency. His parents noticed a limp that worsened until he could not walk and had to use a wheelchair. At Schneider Children's Medical Center, Dr. Ido Navon diagnosed a severe vitamin C deficiency, after the parents reported a monotonous diet without fruits and vegetables. Treatment with vitamin C, first intravenously and then orally, led to improvement: after about a week and a half he stood, and after about a month he returned to walking. Today his condition has improved to about 85%, with a slight limp. The doctor notes that scurvy is rare today, but can appear in children with selective eating, including those on the spectrum. The case highlights the importance of asking about diet in medical examinations.