Analysis of alopecia areata treatment in a group of children at the Dermatological Department, Silesian Medical Academy in 1997–2001

Alopecia areata is a type of non-scarring alopecia. There are temporal or permanent hair loss patches varying in size and shape, within the normal skin. The disease may rapidly start with a changeable clinical course. Alopecia partialis is the most common type of alopecia areata. In the course of the disease total hair loss of scalp and all the body can occur. Alopecia can affect everybody, but frequently is presented before 25 years of age. Children account up for 30% of patients with alopecia areata. Because of the long-term treatment, not always satisfactory therapeutic effects and the patients’ age, enormous patience from both the patient and the doctor is required.
The aim of the study was to assess treatment efficacy and therapeutic final effect in children with alopecia areata.
48 children were examined (27 boys, 21 girls) who were treated in the Outpatient Clinic and hospitalized in the Department of Dermatology, Silesian Medical Academy in Katowice because of alopecia areata. The studied group included children with alopecia areata, ophiasis, total and universal alopecia before 16 years of age.
In the conducted analysis, the patients’ history, dermatological examination, diagnostic investigations (including trichogram), performed model of topical and systemic treatment were taken into account.
In most cases partial or total re-growth in hair loss patches was noted. In the topical treatment mainly corticosteroids were used, while oral vitamins, and highly rarely corticosteroids were administered in the general treatment