Acute alopecia: clue to thallium toxicity

Pediatr Dermatol. 1993 Mar;10(1):29-31. doi: 10.1111/j.1525-1470.1993.tb00007.x.

Abstract

The combination of rapid, diffuse alopecia, and neurologic and gastrointestinal disturbance is pathognomonic for thallium toxicity. The hair mount, showing a tapered or bayonet anagen hair with black pigmentation at the base, may be highly diagnostic before the onset of alopecia. We saw a 10-year-old boy who suffered from thallium poisoning.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Abdominal Pain / chemically induced
  • Acute Disease
  • Alopecia / chemically induced*
  • Child
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Paresthesia / chemically induced
  • Seizures / chemically induced
  • Thallium / poisoning*

Substances

  • Thallium