Is hair loss in children / Alopecia Contagious?
Alopecia Areata, a type of hair loss, causes bald patches on the head of the affected person.
In a few cases, complete baldness eventually develops. In a lot of cases, the hair grows again, generally after several months. However, in some cases, baldness is irreversible.
Alopecia Areata in most cases first develops in children and teenagers. Both males, as well as females, are equally affected.
This baby hair problem is especially distressing for small children, and research has established that hair loss in small children is responsible for approximately 3% of visits to pediatricians in the US.
Hair loss in children can be frightening to them and parents as well. So it is essential that you get a proper medical diagnosis as soon as possible.
What is Alopecia Areata?
Alopecia Areata is a medical condition causing hair loss which is believed to be caused by the child’s body’s immune system launching an attack on his hair follicles.
The condition is characterized by the sudden appearance of oval or round patches of hair loss.
These patches are smooth or slick without any indication of scaling or hair that is broken. 25% of children may have ridging or pitting of their nails.
Even though there is no actual cure for Alopecia Areata, the disease can be controlled in some children by proper treatment.
A lot of children might have their hair grow back again within a year.
However, this regrowth is not predictable. It is possible that majority will lose their hair all over again.
In approximately 5% of children, this disease eventually transitions to Alopecia totalis – which is the loss of all hair on their head.
A few children may eventually develop Alopecia Universalis, which is a complete loss of all body hair.
Tests and the Diagnosis of Alopecia Areata
Doctors can generally diagnose Alopecia Areata easily just by examining the child’s symptoms.
Doing so involves them looking at the amount of hair loss and examination of hairs from the affected areas using a microscope.
A skin biopsy may be recommended by the doctor in case they are unable to make a definitive diagnosis after the initial clinical examination.
They may ask a blood test to be performed to rule out any other autoimmune diseases conclusively.
Making a diagnosis is generally straightforward and quick considering that the symptoms of this illness are very distinctive.
Treatment of Alopecia Areata
For young children, appropriate treatment will consist mainly of application of strong corticosteroid creams or ointments to bald areas of the child’s scalp.
In case of Teenagers, who may be more concerned about hair loss, steroid injections into their scalp might produce return of hair.
Minoxidil (Rogaine) may be used along with treatment using topical steroids.
Anthralin which is applied to the scalp for a short period of time and subsequently washed off might also be used.
As a result of these treatments, hair may grow back in approximately 8-12 weeks.
A few studies have supported the use of photochemotherapy as a treatment.
Photochemotherapy is potentially an alternative for those patients who may be either unable or alternately unwilling to use invasive or systemic therapies.
Is Alopecia Contagious?
Alopecia areata does not make children sick, and it is not contagious either. However, it can have an emotional toll on the child.
It has been observed that for the majority of children, alopecia areata happens to be a traumatic disease affecting them emotionally.
In case your child has contracted this disease, you need to take extra care in addressing their concerns.
You should even consider professional counseling to help your child overcome the emotional trauma caused by this disease.
Is hair loss in children / Alopecia Contagious?
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