ants and Alopecia

Topics: Acute Disease; Adult; Alopecia; Animals; Ants; Bedding and Linens; Follow-Up Studies; Humans; Male; Risk Assessment

Localized scalp hair loss is associated with many processes, including alopecia areata, trichotillomania, tinea capitis, and early lupus erythematosus. There are several reports of localized alopecia after tick- and flea-bites and bee stings, but there are only two reports of ant-induced alopecia in the literature. We present two cases of alopecia induced by ants of genus Pheidole (species pallidula) and review the literature for insect-induced alopecia. Ant-induced alopecia should be considered in the differential diagnosis of localized sudden-onset alopecia, at least in some geographic areas of the world.

Topics: Adult; Alopecia; Alopecia Areata; Animals; Ants; Appetitive Behavior; Bedding and Linens; Diagnosis, Differential; Female; Humans; Iran; Male; Scalp; Tinea Capitis; Trichotillomania

Ant-induced alopecia is a rare cause of acute, localized, nonscarring hair loss. It is most commonly caused by Pheidole pallidula ants, which can be found worldwide but are most common in Iran. The resulting alopecia can have many morphologic patterns (eg, patch, linear, nondiscrete) and thus ant-induced alopecia should be considered in the differential diagnosis for patients from endemic areas who present with new-onset localized hair loss. The condition is self-limited; however, patients should be evaluated for other more common causes of alopecia, especially in the absence of a convincing history.

Topics: Adolescent; Alopecia; Animals; Ants; Diagnosis, Differential; Humans; Male; Scalp

Topics: Adolescent; Alopecia; Animals; Ants; Humans; Male

A 32-year-old woman presented with an abrupt, localized loss of scalp hair that occurred on the previous day. Her nails, skin, and mucosae were normal. On the vertex of the scalp, there was a circular patch of alopecia; the hairs were broken at approximately equal lengths above the skin surface. Several erythematous macules were seen in the affected area, but scale, twisted hair, and exclamation-mark hairs were not present. Further examination revealed the presence of ants on the scalp. This patient is one of several referred to our department presenting with hair loss associated with hair-cutter ant invasion.

Topics: Adult; Alopecia; Animals; Ants; Ectoparasitic Infestations; Female; Humans; Scalp