Penicillin and Alopecia

Hello everybody,

 

My son is six years old and has had AA since May 2006.

 

I have now checked my son's use of medicines through his six year long life (I asked my GP for a transcript of his use of medicines).

 

It appears that 3 months before we consulted a dermatologist regarding his first bald patch in May 2006 he was prescribed a type of penicillin called Vepicombin. When we discovered the last patch in December 2009 it was only three days after beginning with exactly the same type of medicine. Finally, 4 -5 months before the appearance of the bald patch that has developed and grown since March 2009 he was prescribed with another kind of penicillin (Primcillin). So now we have at least three cases of penicillin treatment given in somewhat proximity prior to each development of a patch. Has anybody made similar observations?

 

Hope that someone will ask their GP for a medicines transcript to see whether the AA could have been triggered by the use of penicillin (or other antibiotics). Thanks for any input.

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Permalink Reply by Jen Deletto on February 11, 2010 at 8:21am
We haven't had the same response to medication but my daughter's alopecia coinsided with her getting ringworm on her chin. The drs all feel that they are unrelated and it was just by chance that both came out at the same time. Good luck!
Permalink Reply by stuart hayes on February 14, 2010 at 2:29am
Hi
yes think im the same?................first patch was noticed 1 week after recieving penicillen for a chest infection??.......ive often wondered if there was a link between the two? interesting. Things seem to be returning slowly, fingers crossed. x
Permalink Reply by Heather L on February 14, 2010 at 10:33am
Hi Alia,

Interesting topic! From research I have read on this -- I think it may be more likely that the infection/illness that lead to the need for antibiotics maybe the "trigger" for the AA rather than the antibiotics. There has been studies which link autoimmune diseases to infections/virus's. Nothing so far concrete or specific to AA. However there has been studies which investigated Guillain Barre snydrom (GBS) and Lupus and did see a correlation to infectious pathogens. Have you ever read about the large number of people who got GBS following the 70's vaccine programs-- the hypothesis was the viral antigens triggered the condition. Even today pay attention to the next time you see a commercial or read anything about vaccines they always warn "increased risk for GBS"

Also with Lupus - a Dr. Harley who heads up a research team for this disease has been able to create Lupus-like diseases after being injected with Epstein Barr Virus.

So it seems logical to me ONE of the many triggers for AA could also be virus's or infection.

Having said that.... I have never been able to come up with any theory for my own first bald spot 20 years ago- but when it returned six years ago and much worse this time.... it followed lyme disease AND of course a few months of antibiotics... so your guess is as good as mine... could it have been the lyme disease, the antibiotics or something else entirely unrelated? I sure have been to many docs. trying to find that answer to that....and no answers yet!
Permalink Reply by Beth Breslow on April 12, 2010 at 4:27pm
Hi Alia,

I have had the same situation with my daughter. Last year my 2 1/2 year old daughter at the time was on an antibiotic for bronchitis called arithromycn. Within 3 weeks I noticed a bald spot. Within 4 months she was completely bald, including eyebrows and eyelashes. In my head I always thought the antibiotic had something to do with it but not one dr. would agree with me. We kept her healthy thru the summer and by August it started to finally grow back. We were very hopeful. In October she caught bronchitis again and I pled with her pediatrician not to put her on another antibiotic. She told me it would be more harmful than not if i didn't put her on it. Within one week after finishing a different antibiotic we noticed a bald spot. Within three weeks all her hair was gone again. Now I am 100% positive that the antibiotic was the cause. We have sought a new dr. who is homeopathic and he did lots of testing including bloodwork, hair testing, stool samples and found that her yeast levels were thru the roof. He seems to think that this is what has caused her hair loss b/c antibiotics are made up of yeast. So far we do not have any regrowth but since December she was on a strict diet and anti-fungal meds to kill the yeast. Good Luck!!
Permalink Reply by Reto on April 14, 2010 at 1:04am
Is there a way to measure yeast levels that one can get from a good health food store?

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