Your doctor can usually diagnose scurvy by:
- asking you about your recent diet
- asking you about your symptoms
- carrying out a blood test to measure the level of vitamin C in your blood
X-rays may also be used to check for changes in the normal structure of your bones as thinning of the bones can often occur in cases of scurvy.
If there's a lack of vitamin C in your diet, it's likely that your diet also lacks other nutrients, such as:
- iron – can lead to iron deficiency anaemia, a condition that causes the symptoms of tiredness, shortness of breath and a lack of energy
- vitamin B12, which can lead to vitamin B12 deficiency and cause a range of symptoms such as mouth ulcers and disturbed vision
Therefore, you may have additional blood tests to measure the nutrient levels in your blood.
