Jean-Baptiste Charcot, the French Antarctic expedition and scurvy / Jean-Baptiste Charcot, expedição Antártica e escorbuto

During the second expedition to the South Pole, Commander Jean-Baptiste Charcot and some members of the crew of “Pourquoi Pas?” developed symptoms suggestive of scurvy. The clinical picture was totally reversed after dietary changes.

Durante a segunda expedição polar do sul, o comandante Charcot e alguns membros da tripulação do “Porquoi Pas?” desenvolveram sintomas sugestivos de escorbuto. O quadro clínico foi totalmente reversível após modificações da dieta.

Rare Case of Scorbutic Gingivitis.

Scorbutic Gingivitis was a condition of great prevalence among sailors of the yesteryears. With added advancement and diet consciousness the condition is a rarity now. Although scurvy is prevalent in population below poverty line, in this patient having scorbutic gingivitis, it was ironic that the patient starved due to religious belief and not due to circumstances. Vitamin C is the vitamin with the second largest daily requirement and plays a vital role in a host of metabolic reactions. Its lack produces a panorama of signs and symptoms, many of which present primarily or originally in the mouth. This case report of a rare case of Scorbutic gingivitis was diagnosed and treated in Department of Periodontology and reviews the case itself and the recent literature on this potentially fatal condition.