A study published in The Lancet, and cited by Libération, points to an alarming progression in France of scurvy, a disease from another century that was thought to have disappeared, linked among other things to poverty and food insecurity. Between 2014 and 2021, 68 cases were recorded at Montpellier University Hospital.
Pediatricians at the Parisian Robert-Debré hospital, based on the impression of an increase in cases of scurvy among the children they treat, decided to quantify the phenomenon.
Thanks to the base “Information systems medicalization program” (PMSI), which brings together all the data on hospitalizations in France, they counted 888 children hospitalized for scurvy between January 2015 and November 2023.
Scurvy is a disease linked to a significant vitamin C deficiency, which can cause loose teeth, purulence of the gums, bone pain, hemorrhages, and cause death in the most extreme cases.
The return of scurvy in France has seen a major boost since the COVID epidemic, since the cumulative increase in the number of cases rose to 34.5% after March 2020 (i.e. an increase of 0.01% per month before this date to almost 2%.) Among children aged 5 to 10, the increase in the number of cases was 200% between March 2020 and November 2023) Severe malnutrition increased by 20% over this same post-Covid period. Which also exposes children to other diseases, including obesity, diabetes, stunted growth and even weakened immune systems.
Ulrich Meinzer, head of department at Robert-Debré and who coordinated this work for The Lancet, interviewed by Libération, thinks that these data are all the more worrying as they are certainly underestimated, since only the cases which led to hospitalizations are listed. “We have seen precariousness worsen since the pandemic. Nurses are reporting to us more and more often about families who have not eaten due to lack of funds. “, confides the doctor. For Catherine Salinier, from the French Association of Ambulatory Pediatrics, “This disease is an extreme form of precariousness, which liberal pediatricians are all more or less confronted with.”
Since the COVID epidemic, poverty and precariousness have continued to increase among the French population, despite a reduction in the galloping inflation of recent years. According to the 18th barometer on poverty in France carried out by Ipsos at the request of Secours Populaire, published on September 12, 2024, nearly 62% of French people say they have experienced or been on the verge of experiencing a situation of poverty, i.e. 4 additional points compared to 2023. 40% say they have already gone through a period of great financial fragility this year, the highest level since 2013. According to this same study, a French person considers themselves poor when their income is less than 1,431 euros per month in Ile-de-France and less than 1,388 euros in the rest of the country.
16% of French people say they live uncovered throughout the year, a little less than half of them say they manage to put money aside, one in two respondents say they have difficulty paying the bills. 'energy. A third of French people also have difficulty paying their rent or mortgage, 30% are unable to eat as healthily as they would like and one in three parents sometimes have to go without to feed their children.
The first signs of scurvy appear after one to three months spent with less than 10 mg of vitamin C per day for one to three months, the equivalent of an orange every eight to ten days.
Julie Barthelet devoted her thesis to scurvy during her medical internship. She identified 68 cases at Montpellier University Hospital between 2014 and 2021.
France once again posted a record amount of dividends paid to wealthy shareholders of large companies mainly of 54.3 billion euros, up 6.8% in the second quarter of 2024.
Our articles are free because we believe that the independent press should be accessible to everyone. However, producing committed and quality information requires time and money, especially when we refuse to be under the orders of Bolloré and his friends… As long as it lasts! That’s good, it’s up to you:
