5 year old Geneva boy with scurvy

Wednesday, 19 October 2022 04:26

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.

More from Bitesize News

Twint scam warning

Switzerland has launched a national campaign to help the public spot online scams that exploit the Twint payment app
Water ban in parts of Valais

Val de Bagnes has banned residents from using the irrigation network to water gardens and lawns, as Valais water reserves fall to critical levels
New insurance premium initiative

Switzerland's Socialist Party is expected to launch signature collection today for an initiative linking health insurance premiums to household income
Rail link critical

The Lausanne-Geneva rail line must be Switzerland's "absolute priority", according to the country's public transport association
Income not enough for many households

Nearly 360,000 Swiss workers already earn too little to support their households, and the imminent health premium announcement threatens to push more families under
Speed limit decrease in parts of Lausanne

Several new streets in central Lausanne will drop to 30 kilometres per hour from 12 October, day and night, according to a letter the city has sent to affected residents