ACUTE TELOGEN EFFLUVIUM FOLLOWING SARS-COV-2 INFECTION: A RARE PEDIATRIC CASE

Telogen effluvium is a temporary, non-scarring form of diffuse hair loss, characterized by a shortened anagen phase and increased telogen club hair shedding. It can appear three months after a stressful event and may last up to six months. Various factors, including the SARS-CoV-2 virus seen during the COVID-19 pandemic, can contribute to the onset of telogen effluvium. The exact pathophysiological mechanism of hair loss caused by the virus remains unclear and continues to be under investigation. Telogen effluvium following COVID-19 has been frequently described in adults; however, there are few published cases in children. We present a rare case of post-COVID-19 telogen effluvium in a 6-year-old girl, one month after infection. The COVID-19 infection presented with mild fever, fatigue, sore throat, and upper respiratory symptoms, treated only with symptomatic therapy. Other causes of hair loss were ruled out. The dermatological evaluation showed diffuse hair loss on the scalp, more noticeable in the frontoparietal region, with no scarring, accompanied by a positive hair pull test. The diagnosis was made by the dermatologist based on the detailed anamnesis, complete laboratory workup with differential blood count, dermatological assessment, and a positive hair pull test. No medication was prescribed, and after 8 months, the condition improved on its own. This case highlights that post-COVID-19 telogen effluvium is rare in the pediatric population, emphasizing its psychological impact and the importance of reassuring the patient that it is a reversible, self-limiting condition.