Omeprazole-Induced Hypertrichosis in Two Children

The document reports two cases of children who developed reversible hypertrichosis (excessive hair growth) after treatment with omeprazole, a proton pump inhibitor commonly used for peptic disease. The first case involved a male infant who began omeprazole therapy at 2 months old for gastroesophageal reflux disease and developed hypertrichosis by his third month. The hypertrichosis resolved within 6 months after omeprazole was discontinued. The second case was an 8-year-old boy treated with omeprazole for recurrent abdominal pain who developed hypertrichosis 6 weeks before his referral. His hypertrichosis resolved completely 2 months after stopping omeprazole. The document suggests that omeprazole-induced hypertrichosis may be due to increased synthesis of prostaglandin E2, which is known to stimulate hair growth. The cases highlight a likely relationship between omeprazole use and hypertrichosis, given the absence of other causes, the timing of hair growth with omeprazole administration, and the resolution of symptoms after the drug was discontinued.