Acute Onset Diffuse Hair Loss in Maharashtra: An Outbreak Evaluation
Sanjiv Choudhary, Yogesh Bahurupi, Dnyanesh Amle, Ankita Srivastava, Priyanka Singh, Prashant P. JoshiABSTRACT
Introduction:
A sudden outbreak of diffuse hair loss was reported from certain areas of Maharashtra from December 2024 to January 2025. Various possibilities, such as nutritional deficiency, toxins, and infections, were proposed as the possible etiology, both by the public and healthcare professionals. Therefore, our team visited the affected areas to assess these mysterious cases.
Aim:
The aim is to investigate the cause of unexplained acute hair fall in certain villages of Buldhana district in Maharashtra.
Materials and Methods:
The investigating team collaborated with the local administration to identify new cases of hair loss. House to house survey was done, and a total of twenty subjects (13 cases and 7 controls) were evaluated with detailed history and dermatological examination, including trichoscopy and skin biopsy. Appropriate samples from hair, scalp, serum, urine, and water sources were collected, and a complete clinical, epidemiological, biochemical, and microbiological analysis was done.
Results:
Anagen effluvium (AE) was noticed in 11 out of 13 (84.62%) cases. Biochemical analysis revealed significantly high selenium levels in patients’ serum (15 times higher) in cases as compared to controls. Serum levels of strontium and zinc were also found to be marginally higher in cases. Some of the random water samples demonstrated the presence of excess selenium and strontium, while no fungal elements were noticed in any of the hair samples.
Conclusion:
The recent outbreak of diffuse hair fall in Buldhana district of Maharashtra was due to AE, possibly related to selenium, strontium, and/or zinc excess. Further investigations are necessary to pinpoint the source of exposure.