The picky eating habits of a five-year-old boy saw him admitted to the Geneva University Hospital with scurvy.
Doctors say the boy had severe pains in his back and legs – and had been checked for infections and genetic diseases.
It was only when his knees became deformed, scurvy was diagnosed.
Apparently, the child refused to eat fruit and vegetables - and so suffered a vitamin C deficiency.
Once treated he soon regained the ability to walk and the pain subsided. His parents have been told the importance of a balanced diet.
Doctors say its difficult to diagnose scurvy as its so rare in the developed world.