SCURVY IN A PEDIATRIC PATIENT WITH AUTISM AND LIMP: A CASE REPORT

Background: Limping is a common chief complaint in the pediatric emergency department (ED) and can be difficult to assess in pediatric patients, particularly if they have developmental delay. Case Report: We present a case of a 5-year-old male with nonverbal autism who presented with a progressive limp, weakness, pain, and rash over the course of 1 month. A magnetic resonance imaging scan of the pelvis performed while the patient was sedated revealed multifocal osseous marrow signal abnormalities, ultimately consistent with vitamin C deficiency or scurvy. Why Should an Emergency Physician be Aware of This?: Scurvy can present with nonspecific limp, rash, and bony pain and should be considered in pediatric patients with developmental/sensory delay who may restrict their diets. Emergency physicians should broaden their differential diagnoses to nutritional deficiencies such as scurvy in the evaluation of pediatric patients with limp. (C) 2020 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.