Hair Loss in Children in South-East Nigeria: Common and Uncommon Cases

Between February 2002 and March 2003, a study at the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital Skin Clinic examined 113 children aged 3 months to 13 years with hair loss and scalp disorders. The study found that the most common causes of hair loss were tinea capitis (54.9%), alopecia areata (38.1%), psoriasis (4.4%), and telogen effluvium (2.7%). Traction alopecia was also noted but was not the primary reason for consultation. Alopecia areata was most common in children aged 8-11 and was equally prevalent in both sexes, with a family history noted in 0.2% of cases. Other less common causes included seborrheic dermatitis, discoid lupus erythematosus, and psoriasis, with no cases of trichotillomania observed. The study highlighted that hair loss in children in South-East Nigeria is mostly acquired and that parental attitudes towards treatment, particularly for tinea capitis, significantly influence the clinical course.