Question of the Week

Question :

Posted On : 18 Feb 2006

11 year old child came to OPD with scattered white hair. Positive Family History in older brother. What is differential diagnosis?

Expert Answer :

No expert answer available.

Answer Discussion :

anantan

zinc deficiency

19 years ago

pediatriconcall

White-Grey hair in childhood is known as ‘Premature graying’.
Premature graying in children is usually genetically programmed If
the parents or grandparents had premature graying, the children may
follow suit.
“The time and speed of gray hair onset is due in part to genetics, and
early onset gray hair development can run in families. Very
occasionally, a few gray hairs can develop in children as young as 8
years and yet it indicates nothing other than an early onset of the
gray hair that we all develop with increasing age. Typical gray hair
first develops at age 34.2 Plus 9.6 years in Caucasians while for Black
people the average age of onset is 43.9 Plus 10.3 years”
Certain drugs, herbs and supplements including vitamin E are also known to cause graying. Smoke, even second hand smoke, has been linked to premature gray hair. Some diseases
cause prematurely gray hair, such as pernicious anemia,
hyper-hypo-thyroidism, osteopenia, progeria
Werner’s syndrome children, Böök's syndrome, Cri du Chat syndrome,
neurofibromatosis and tuberous sclerosis can all cause gray hair in
children.
Chediak-Higashi is a rare childhood autosomal recessive disorder
characterized by immune deficiency, partial oculocutaneous albinism,
easy bruisability and bleeding.

19 years ago

Rajeshwari Ganesh

albinism

19 years ago

a-ghaffar

down synd

19 years ago

Dr. Priti Mehta

albinism

19 years ago

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