Six-year-old had scurvy when he died, despite taking multivitamin
A 6-year-old Queensland boy died after developing scurvy from a severe vitamin C deficiency, a coroner has found.
Connor Dean, who had Down syndrome and complex medical needs, died from cardiac arrest at Queensland Children’s Hospital on August 10, 2024.
Scurvy, once associated with sailors deprived of fresh fruit and vegetables on long voyages, has become rare in countries where vitamin C-rich food is widely available.
Deputy State Coroner Stephanie Gallagher found the precise cause of the cardiac arrest could not be definitively determined, but clinicians and a forensic pathologist regarded the vitamin C deficiency as the most likely underlying factor.
Connor had been under specialist care since infancy, including surgery as a baby to repair a serious heart defect. The coroner’s report said that, by 2023, doctors were increasingly concerned about his restricted diet and poor growth.
His paediatrician said Connor’s diet contained no fruit or vegetables and that he had gained only 300g in 11 months, compared with an expected 1.5kg to 2kg.
A 6-year-old Queensland boy died after developing scurvy from a severe vitamin C deficiency. Photo / Getty Images
The child was referred to a dietitian, and his parents were advised to give him a multivitamin. His paediatrician told Connor’s mother that his diet did “not contain enough calories or the vitamins and minerals he needed to grow and be healthy”.
In July 2024, Connor’s condition worsened, and he was admitted to hospital with leg pain, limping and an inability to bear weight, the coroner said. Doctors considered several possible causes, including injury, infection and cancer.
Connor had an MRI scan under general anaesthetic. He deteriorated in recovery and suffered a cardiac arrest. Circulation was restored after about eight to 10 minutes, but he sustained a severe brain injury and later developed sepsis.
The investigation found that Connor’s over-the-counter multivitamin contained no vitamins C, K or E.
“I believe that it is misleading to call this product a multivitamin when it misses essential vitamins such as vitamin C,” Connor’s paediatrician said.
The manufacturer defended the label, arguing that multivitamin products did not generally contain “all essential vitamins and nor are they indicated for treatment of a severe deficiency”.
Gallagher found the death had been adequately investigated and closed the case without an inquest, saying publication could help “prevent deaths in similar circumstances happening in the future”.
While scurvy is now uncommon, the Herald reported in March this year that a 5-year-old boy had been diagnosed with the disease after being admitted to hospital.
The boy, who had non-verbal autism spectrum disorder and restricted eating, had reportedly survived almost entirely on chicken and biscuits.
He was referred to an orthopaedic clinic after his parents noticed discomfort, reduced leg movement and a “progressive non-weight-bearing status”.
By the time he was admitted, the deficiency had left him barely able to stand or walk.
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