What are the Differences between Anemia and Scurvy?

Both septicemia and scurvy are diseases that we may have heard of. They may seem similar at first glance as they are both related to the blood, but there are actually significant differences between them. Septicemia is a bacterial disease that affects the blood due to bacterial infection. On the other hand, scurvy is a disease caused by a lack of vitamin C.

Scurvy is generally referred to as vitamin C deficiency. Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) is essential for the formation of collagen, which helps maintain the integrity of interstitial substances such as connective tissue, osteoid tissue, and dentin. Severe lack of vitamin C can lead to scurvy, an acute or chronic disease characterized by bleeding and abnormal formation of osteoid and dentin. In children, the main manifestations include bone development disorders, limb swelling and pain, pseudo-paralysis, and subcutaneous bleeding. In adults, it manifests as gingival swelling and bleeding, subcutaneous ecchymosis, joint and muscle pain, and follicular keratosis.

Long-term inadequate intake, diarrhea, vomiting, and other conditions can lead to a lack of vitamin C, which prevents the normal synthesis of collagen and results in cellular connection disorders. This increases the fragility of capillaries, leading to subcutaneous bleeding under the skin and mucosa, medically known as scurvy. Scurvy can also be seen in infants and young children who are not fed properly.

On the other hand, septicemia mostly occurs as a complication of various infections and lacks specific clinical manifestations, making it easy to miss or misdiagnose. To improve the early diagnosis rate of septicemia, timely and appropriate testing is essential. Septicemia refers to a severe systemic infection caused by pathogenic bacteria entering the bloodstream, multiplying, and producing toxins there. The main clinical manifestations include chills, high fever, and a significant increase in white blood cells.

Whether the invasion of pathogenic bacteria into the bloodstream can lead to septicemia depends on the body's defense and immune functions, as well as the virulence and number of bacteria. However, it mainly depends on the physiological and immunological status of the human body, and it usually occurs when the body's resistance is reduced.