Citation

Clemetson CA. J. Am. phys. surg. 2004; 9(3): 78-80.

Affiliation

Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA, USA.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2004, Association of American Physicians and Surgeons)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Retinal petechiae, subdural hemorrhages, and even broken bones do not always indicate trauma or child abuse. Infantile scurvy or a variant form still occurs today and can be mistakenly diagnosed as nonaccidental injury (NAI). Histamine levels, which are characteristically increased in vitamin C depletion, may reach a toxic level owing to infection or the injection of foreign proteins. Histamine intoxication can cause a variant of Barlow’s disease, with weakness of the retinal vessels and the bridging veins and venules between the brain and the dura mater in infants.