Dengue-Associated Telogen Effluvium Causing Body Dysmorphic Disorder
March 2023
in “
The primary care companion for CNS disorders
”
TLDR Dengue fever can cause hair loss that may lead to serious psychological issues like Body Dysmorphic Disorder in young women.
The document discusses a case of a 21-year-old woman who developed Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD) due to hair loss following a dengue infection. Hair loss after dengue is a common but underreported occurrence, and it can lead to acute telogen effluvium, a condition characterized by sudden hair loss. The woman in the case study experienced significant hair loss, leading to an excessive preoccupation with her hair quantity, social withdrawal, and distress about her upcoming marriage. She was diagnosed with BDD, a condition characterized by distressing preoccupation with an imagined or slight defect in appearance. The document concludes that hair loss following dengue infection can pose a significant psychological burden, especially in young females, and can lead to psychiatric disorders such as BDD. Therefore, physicians should be aware of dengue-associated hair loss and its potential psychological impact.
