The teams from the general pediatrics department and the reference center for inflammatory rheumatic diseases and systemic autoimmune diseases in children (RAISE) at Robert-Debré Hospital AP-HP, Inserm, Paris Cité University, and the pediatrics department of Cayenne Hospital in French Guiana, coordinated by Drs. Zein Assad, Maelle Trad, and Professor Ulrich Meinzer, conducted a study on the increase in scurvy among children in France since the Covid-19 pandemic. The results of this study were published on December 6, 2024, in the journal *The Lancet Regional Health – Europe*.
Scurvy is a disease caused by a severe vitamin C deficiency that had practically disappeared by the end of the 20th century in high-income countries, particularly in Europe. Scurvy can cause, among other things, intense bone pain and debilitating muscle weakness, bleeding, and a decline in general health. The alarming resurgence of this disease highlights the potential consequences of increased socioeconomic hardship since 2020 on the nutritional status of children in France.
The main objective of the study was to assess trends in the incidence of scurvy among hospitalized children in France over a nine-year period and to examine the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. The study also analyzed changes in malnutrition, differentiating between severe, moderate, and mild forms.
This study is based on data collected from the national PMSI (Medical Information Systems Program). The study included patients aged 18 years and younger with scurvy and severe malnutrition between January 2015 and November 2023. It covered two distinct periods: pre-pandemic (2015-2020) and post-pandemic (2020-2023). Socioeconomic factors such as the consumer price index were included to assess correlations with disease incidence.
A total of 888 patients with scurvy were hospitalized, with a mean age of 11 years. The increase in hospitalizations is estimated at 34.5% after the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Furthermore, the rise in cases of severe malnutrition, estimated at 20.3%, reinforces the link between scurvy and a decline in children’s nutritional status. The increase in cases of scurvy and severe malnutrition was associated with worsening socioeconomic hardship and inflation. This association does not necessarily constitute a causal relationship, although it is plausible.
The resurgence of scurvy may be linked to various causes, including environmental and social factors, as well as those related to dietary habits. It is also important to highlight the unexpected impact of the pandemic and the ensuing global socio-economic and political crises on the worsening of food insecurity. For example, in France, food price inflation reached 15% at the beginning of 2023, particularly affecting vulnerable families.
Following the results of this study, recommendations could be made, particularly regarding the implementation of targeted food aid programs, improved access to nutritious and affordable food, and strengthened clinical training for the prevention and early detection of nutritional deficiencies.
https://presse.inserm.fr/augmentation-des-cas-de-scorbut-chez-les-enfants-en-france-depuis-la-pandemie-de-covid/69787/
https://www.lemonde.fr/planete/article/2025/01/03/hausse-des-cas-de-scorbut-chez-les-enfants-en-france-un-symbole-de-l-augmentation-de-la-precarite-alimentaire_6480264_3244.html