The Frequency of Congenital and Acquired Alopecia among Infants and Children

Background: Hair loss in children is commonly encountered complaint in the dermatology clinics. It can be physiological or pathological, and, in the latter, congenital or acquired.

Objective: To shed light on the different causes of hair loss in infants and children with ages that ranged from 0-12 years in Baghdad city.

Patients and Methods: This is a hospital-based observational cross-sectional study performed at the Center of Dermatology, Baghdad Teaching Hospital, Medical City, Iraq during the period from January 2016 to the end of October 2017. One hundred twenty nine patients with ages of not more than 12 years complaining of hair loss were included in this study.

Results: There were 71 (55%) males and 58 (45%) females presenting with hair loss. Acquired alopecia was recognized in 112 (86.8%) patients while 17 (13.2%) patients had been presented with congenital/hereditary alopecia. Alopecia areata was the most frequent cause, affecting 47 (36.4%) patients followed by tinea capitis 39 (30.2%), telogen effluvium of newborn 11(8.5%), traction alopecia 7(5.4%), posttraumatic alopecia 5(3.9%) and trichotillomania 3(2.3%). While the congenital/hereditary alopecia was consisting of hidrotic ectodermal dysplasia in 4(3.1%), hypohidrotic ectodermal dysplasia in 3 (2.3%), monilethrix 3(2.3%), nevus sebaceous 5 (3.9%) and epidermal nevi 2 (1.6%).

Conclusion: Hair loss in infants and children encompassed both congenital (13.2%) and acquired disorders (86.8%). The commonest causes of childhood alopecia in Baghdad community were mainly acquired with alopecia areata was the most frequent cause followed by tinea capitis and telogen effluvium of newborn while the congenital/hereditary types are also important causes of hair loss.