Sailors and Scurvy Disease

'Health is Wealth' is a most famous proverb we all know. There is nothing in our life that is more valuable than good health. Good health is always the most important asset than any other wealth we own. Knowing how to make money is important but with poor health, everything is to no purpose.

The choice to work on a ship has many perks, but we also know the fact that working at sea is one of the most hazardous occupations, in regards to personal health and safety concerns of seafarers. Moreover, it is so hard to maintain a healthy diet far from fresh supplies, fresh fruits, and vegetables. Good nutrition is the key to getting the best performance of the seafarers which is fine if they are in their own homes and can choose what is on their table – but at sea, it gets a bit more complicated and difficult. In consequence, many seafarers suffered from a disease called scurvy.

What is scurvy?

Scurvy is a condition characterized by general weakness, anemia, gingivitis (gum disease), and skin hemorrhages caused by a lack of vitamin C (ascorbic acid) in the diet. The early symptoms of scurvy include spongy gums, feeling tired, pain in the joints, and blood spots appearing under the skin. As the disease worsens, there is a change to hair, personality changes, the teeth would become loose, extreme halitosis (bad breath) would develop, the afflicted would become too weak to walk or work, be in too much pain to eat, and finally death from infection or bleeding often from a burst blood vessel.

Signs and symptoms:

Vitamin C is a necessary nutrient that helps the body absorb iron and produce collagen. If the body does not produce enough collagen, tissues will start to break down.

Early symptoms include;

•    Malaise is a feeling of general discomfort, uneasiness or pain, often the first indication of an infection or other diseases

•    Lethargy is a state of tiredness, weariness, fatigue, or lack of energy. It can be accompanied by depression, decreased motivation, or apathy.

•    Pain in the section of the gums which interferes with digestion

After 1–3 months, patients develop shortness of breath and bone pain.  Other symptoms include skin changes with roughness, easy bruising and petechiae, gum disease, loosening of teeth, poor wound healing, and emotional changes (which may appear before any physical changes). Dry mouth and dry eyes similar to Sjögren's syndrome may occur. In the late stages, jaundice, generalized edema, oliguria, neuropathy, fever, convulsions, and eventual death are frequently seen.

Why scurvy affect sailors?

Sailors on long trips were at one-time frequent victims of scurvy. Scurvy occurred when sailors without access to foods containing vitamin C. When the sailors began their voyage they had fresh fruits and vegetables on their ship.  But after a long sea voyages made, people at sea were not able to access that much-needed fresh food for months at a time. Preserved meats and carbohydrates contained no vitamin C, and unlike most animals, the human body is not able to create vitamin C on its own.

Prevention and Treatment:

Scurvy can be prevented by a diet that includes vitamin C-rich foods such as broccoli, bell peppers (sweet peppers), guava, blackcurrants, chile peppers, kiwifruit, and parsley. Other sources rich in vitamin C are fruits such as lemons, oranges, papaya, and strawberries. It is also found in vegetables, such as brussels sprouts, cabbage, potatoes, and spinach.

Some animal products, including liver, Muktuk (whale skin), oysters, and parts of the central nervous system, including the adrenal medulla, brain, and spinal cord, contain large amounts of vitamin C, and can even be used to treat scurvy. Fresh meat from animals which make their own vitamin C (which most animals do) contains enough vitamin C to prevent scurvy, and even partly treat it. In some cases (notably French soldiers eating fresh horse meat), it was discovered that meat alone, even partly cooked meat, could alleviate scurvy. Conversely, in other cases, a meat-only diet could cause scurvy.

Treatment involves administering vitamin C supplements by mouth or by injection.

Within 24 hours, patients can expect to see an improvement in fatigue, lethargy, pain, anorexia, and confusion. Bruising, bleeding, and weakness starts to resolve within 1 to 2 weeks.

After 3 months, a complete recovery is possible. Long-term effects are unlikely, except in the case of severe dental damage.

To conclude, it is important that throughout the voyage, all crew members have access to healthy food choices that will enable them to do their best performance in their job while maintaining a healthy lifestyle. It is important to remember that vessels are not only a crew’s workplace but, for the set periods of the year of their contract, they also consider the ship/on-board environment their home.

Our body is a gift from God. It is our responsibility to manage it well. Love your body with the same affection we do to our loved ones, we’d live healthier and happier lives. Isn’t it about time we turn that favor to ourselves?