Alopecias
February 2013
in “
Archives of Disease in Childhood: Education & Practice
”
alopecia kerion tinea capitis oral antifungal treatment topical antifungal shampoo alopecia areata autoimmune thyroid disease steroids skin sensitization techniques transient neonatal hair loss ringworm of the scalp antifungal treatment antifungal shampoo autoimmune disease thyroid disease steroid treatment skin sensitization
TLDR Different types of alopecia in children require specific diagnoses and treatments.
The document presents a series of questions and answers related to different types of alopecia in children. The first case describes a 6-month-old boy with alopecia over a boggy mass on the scalp, diagnosed as kerion, a severe manifestation of tinea capitis (ringworm of the scalp), which requires oral antifungal treatment and topical antifungal shampoo. The second case involves a 9-year-old girl with a patch of alopecia with 'exclamation point hairs', indicative of alopecia areata, an autoimmune disease that can cause unpredictable hair loss and may be associated with autoimmune thyroid disease. Treatment options for alopecia areata range from watchful waiting to steroids and skin sensitization techniques. The third case is about an 8-week-old boy with transient neonatal hair loss, a common condition that resolves on its own within the first year of life and requires no treatment. The document emphasizes the importance of accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment for different types of alopecia in pediatric patients.
