Hair loss in a toddler?

[bandgeek]

My DS, who is 2.9 seems to be losing a bit more hair than normal. If I run my fingers through it there is quite a few strands coming out. What causes this? He has been ill the past few weeks (just recovering from a chest infection, not eating etc) and does have quite long hair, so I guess I wouldn't notice if it was short but it is worrying me.

I'm waiting for a callback from a nurse but I'm wondering if anyone else had experiended this, to stop me going crazy while I wait.

Anyone?

There are lots of non-serious reassons why this might happen so please don't worry.

EG:
Telogen effluvium: this usually occurs in young infants as a part of the normal process in which mature hair replaces baby hair. It can also occur in older children, usually a few months after an illness, and it is caused by the hair growth cycle being interrupted, with many hairs moving from a growing state to a resting state. As many hairs are shed, you may notice diffuse hair loss and it may seem like all of your child's hair is falling out, but there should be no other signs of infection or inflammation. The hair usually grows back in about 6 months.

Look at this page for more discussion, and remember that the overwhelming likelihood is something non-serious.

Thanks Threadworm. The nurse phoned me and she didn't seem concerned at all. She thinks it might be diet related. I'm going to try and not worry about it.

I should be used to it really. My hair was coming out by the shedload last year but seems to have settled down now. Just 10 times worse when you see it happening to your child

Glad you are feeling better about it.