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What Causes Falling Off Of Nails In A Child?
Question: My 8 year old has entire nails coming off. The entire nail grows off instead of just the top part growing off. Theres a new nail underneath. Her fingernail doesn't look discolored or anything.
Brief Answer:
Onycholysis
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Welcome to healthcare magic.
I understand from your query that your 8 year old son has a problem associated with the growth of his nails.
In dermatological terms, this is termed as Onychomadesis.
It could occur because of local causes like trauma, eczema of the affected fingers/toes, infection of the affected nail bed and systemic causes like fever, drugs or in some cases familial. In some cases, the cause is not known.
Since you have mentioned that his finger nails do not look discoloured, fungal infection may not be a possibility.
Could you provide me few more details so that I can assess better?
1. Which are the nails involved? Are all the nails involves or only a few?
2. Did he have any illnesses in the past 3-6 months like measles, high fever or was he on any medications?
3. Do you have any family history of a similar problem?
4. Does he have any eczema of the skin of the affected digit?
You have a feature to upload the images by yourself at the right side of the query page, please utilize that so that I can answer your query better. You can also send the image as attachment to YYYY@YYYY , with the subject as 'Attn: Dr. Johny Chacko'.
Please get back to me with the clarifications.
Regards,
Dr.Johny Chacko
Onycholysis
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Welcome to healthcare magic.
I understand from your query that your 8 year old son has a problem associated with the growth of his nails.
In dermatological terms, this is termed as Onychomadesis.
It could occur because of local causes like trauma, eczema of the affected fingers/toes, infection of the affected nail bed and systemic causes like fever, drugs or in some cases familial. In some cases, the cause is not known.
Since you have mentioned that his finger nails do not look discoloured, fungal infection may not be a possibility.
Could you provide me few more details so that I can assess better?
1. Which are the nails involved? Are all the nails involves or only a few?
2. Did he have any illnesses in the past 3-6 months like measles, high fever or was he on any medications?
3. Do you have any family history of a similar problem?
4. Does he have any eczema of the skin of the affected digit?
You have a feature to upload the images by yourself at the right side of the query page, please utilize that so that I can answer your query better. You can also send the image as attachment to YYYY@YYYY , with the subject as 'Attn: Dr. Johny Chacko'.
Please get back to me with the clarifications.
Regards,
Dr.Johny Chacko
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Sorry, I 've been busy. It's only been 3 digits so far on her feet. This last one is her pinky toe but the other 2 have been middle digits. She had a fever a while ago. And then she got hand and foot disease that my neighbor doctor said was probably from the fever. My daughter was adopted so I don't know of any family history for this. She does get eczema once in a while but I haven't seen it on her feet. She hasn't been on any medication.
Brief Answer:
Could be related to the fever
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Greetings!
First of all, I apologize for not having seen the sex of your child correctly.
Thank you for the additional history.
It would have been better if you had uploaded a clinical photograph.
From your additional history, I feel that the nail problem could be secondary to the fever episode as well as hand-foot- mouth disease which your child had a while ago.
Nails ( and hair) are a reflection of the state of health of an individual.
When a person has a fever or any physical illness, the nail growth is affected as the nail matrix and nail bed (the 2 structures responsible for normal nail formation) undergo a period of poor nourishment. This reflects in the type of nail formed. But this will show only after a few months because that is the amount of time it takes for a new nail to form.
I suggest that you could observe for a few more months. You have mentioned that there is new nail underneath. So, once the old nail goes off, the process may become normal.
Hope this helps you.
If you any further clarifications, I will be glad to assist.
Wishing your family good health,
Dr. Johny Chacko
Could be related to the fever
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Greetings!
First of all, I apologize for not having seen the sex of your child correctly.
Thank you for the additional history.
It would have been better if you had uploaded a clinical photograph.
From your additional history, I feel that the nail problem could be secondary to the fever episode as well as hand-foot- mouth disease which your child had a while ago.
Nails ( and hair) are a reflection of the state of health of an individual.
When a person has a fever or any physical illness, the nail growth is affected as the nail matrix and nail bed (the 2 structures responsible for normal nail formation) undergo a period of poor nourishment. This reflects in the type of nail formed. But this will show only after a few months because that is the amount of time it takes for a new nail to form.
I suggest that you could observe for a few more months. You have mentioned that there is new nail underneath. So, once the old nail goes off, the process may become normal.
Hope this helps you.
If you any further clarifications, I will be glad to assist.
Wishing your family good health,
Dr. Johny Chacko
Note: Hope the answers resolves your concerns, however for further guidance of skin related queries consult our Dermatologist.Click here to book a consultation
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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