Atypical Alopecia in a 7-Year-Old Male
March 2012
in “
Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology
”
TLDR A 7-year-old boy's unusual hair loss was caused by a herpes infection and healed after treatment.
The document presents a case of atypical alopecia in a 7-year-old male diagnosed with effluvium secondary to herpes zoster. The male patient, who had a history of chickenpox at the age of 2, was referred to dermatology due to a plaque of alopecia on the scalp and symptoms of ocular pain and photophobia. Prior to the hair loss, vesicular lesions had appeared on the scalp and face. Clinical examination revealed a plaque of alopecia with linear distribution and serous crusts on the scalp, residual erythematous patches on the face, and herpetic keratitis upon ocular examination. Tests for bacteria and fungi were negative. The diagnosis was made based on these clinical findings, differentiating it from more common childhood alopecias such as trichotillomania or tinea capitis. Treatment with topical Mupirocin led to the disappearance of serous crusts, and the alopecia plaque resolved completely within 6 months. No commercial support was identified for this case report.