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MyHealthNewsDaily
Here's a reason to get your flu shot that you probably haven't considered: infection with swine flu may trigger baldness.
A new report from Japan suggests a link between alopecia areata, a condition in which patches of hair fall out, and swine flu. The researchers report that seven patients experienced hair loss one to four months after developing the illness.
The exact cause of alopecia areata is unknown, but it is thought to occur when the immune system attacks a person's hair follicles, causing the hair on their head to fall out. Rarely, patients may lose all the hair on their head, or on other parts of their body. While the condition may have a hereditary component, a "trigger" from the environment, such as a traumatic event or illness, may also be needed to set off the disease.
Previous studies have linked viral illnesses, including infections with the Epstein-Barr virus, and onset of alopecia areata. The new findings suggest flu infection may be another trigger of this form of baldness, said study researcher Dr. Taisuke Ito, an assistant professor of dermatology at Hamamatsu University School of Medicine in Japan.
Between 2009 and 2010, the researchers examined seven patients with hair loss following swine flu infection s that caused high fever. Four of the cases were recurrences of the condition, and three were first-time occurrences. On average, hair loss occurred 1.5 months after swine flu infection in those who experienced recurrences, and 2.7 months after swine flu infection in those who experienced first-time hair loss.
All of the patients were under 30 years old, and four were under 10. Three of the cases involved females.
In one case, a 4-year-old girl first experienced alopecia areata in 2006, but recovered completely. Then in 2010, she contracted swine flu and had hair loss two months later.
"I consider it very plausible," that a flu infection could trigger hair loss, said Nanette Silverberg, director of pediatric and adolescent dermatology at St. Luke's-Roosevelt Hospital Center in New York City, who was not involved in the study. "I definitely have seen individuals develop autoimmune conditions," after infection with common viruses, Silverberg said. (An autoimmune condition is one in which the immune system attacks the body's own tissues, rather than foreign germs.)
The fact that more than half of the cases were recurrences of alopecia areata further suggests that certain people are genetically predisposed to develop the condition, Ito said.
Individuals who have had alopecia areata in the past should consider getting their flu vaccination, Silverberg said.
The study was published online Dec. 5 in the Journal of Dermatology.
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How about...NO
Flu shots just give you the Flu
that's not possible. flu shots contain inactivated (dead) virus.
Its simply impossible
Wrong! Flu shots PREVENT the flu.
No, they don't necessarily prevent one from getting the flu. The worst flu season I ever experienced was the ONE year I got the vaccination. I've never gotten the vaccine again, and I've never had the flu again. The article CLEARLY links genetic predisposition to the onset of Alopecia in the people who contracted this flu strain. Sensational Journalism at it's worst.
True. Just because you get the flu shot doesn't mean you won't get the flu. It's also true that people get injured, and sometimes die, when they wear a seatbelt. Here's another true statement: Not everyone who smokes dies from lung cancer or heart disease.
Now you take that first sentence (flu shot doesn't always equal no flu) and dismiss the usefulness of the flu shot. By that logic, do you think people shouldn't wear seatbelts? Or not try to quit smoking?
The fact is that flu shot is about 50% effective across all populations. It's not 100%. But it is certainly not 0%.
The flu shot only covers a few strains that are predicted months in advance to be the big players in the upcoming flu season. That doesn't mean that the viral strains have to play ball. An unforeseen strain could become the major player when winter rolls around and people who got the shot may get the flu from this bug.
You do not get the flu from the shot. Some people may experience fevers and aches - that is a sign that the vaccine is doing what it is supposed to do. It is training your immune system.
My concern for people who experience alopecia from the flu is that the shot could trigger it as well. Alopecia is an underlying immune disorder which may be triggered by certain types of immune activation. It isn't well studied though. Just like Guillan barre syndrome any form of immune activation, whether real viral infection or inoculation, may be sufficient to trigger the condition in people with the underlying immune disorder. In both diseases however, the incidences in the population are rare with or without a shot.
The trouble with the immune system is that it is constantly evolving to meet daily threats and as a result may be primed to react with a fever to a flu shot. If you waited a week to get the shot you might be fine. The same may be true for other complications - though again, I stress that complications are exceedingly rare and could just as easily occur at any moment during the year when a viral infection triggers it - even a small harmless virus. That is why these complications are not significantly higher among vaccine recipients compared to the rest of the population. Vaccination overall is beneficial and reduces the incidence of serious illness and has lengthened our life expectancy and decreased infant mortality in this country.
best post of the thread....very well said
The only thing that can prevent the flu is Vitamin D. A new study released calims a reduction by 50%. Vaccine makers can't even come close to this number! Read up on Vitamin D.
http://www.grc.com/health/vitamin-d.htm
1) That isn't a peer-reviewed scientific study, so tough to take it seriously.
2) Clinical studies show that the vaccine is 50% effective in the general population, so your claim that vaccine makers can't come close to vitamin D's supposed potency is wrong.
Hmm... seeing as though I'm already bald, maybe I can save that $65 on my next Brazilian Wax...
Sorry, I'll have to pass. I'm allergic to Thimerosal(you are too). That would be mercury in laymen's terms. Look it up. Google thimeresal/vaccines
No one is allergic to thimerosal. Mercury does do bad things to developing brains, but it's not an allergy.
But several studies have shown the thimerosal in vaccines isn't linked to deficits in neuro development in kids. These are publicly available studies published in peer-reviewed scientific journals. You can google those too.
I still maintain that where money is concerned, peer reviews can be purchased. Oh please try to prove me wrong.
I still maintain that where money is concerned, peer reviews can be purchased. Oh please try to prove me wrong.
How could one possibly prove that statement wrong 100% of the time? Its not possible.
But why don't we examine the facts. Many peer reviewed studies involve no big corporations or pharma companies sponsors. The funds come from either endowment from a university, or the NIH. So no party with a vested interest in a particular outcome
Also, many trials involve drugs that are generic...why would a pharma company try to bribe a scientist to produce certain results of a drug they are not even making that much money off of?
I may not be able to prove a negative (studies are never fradulent) which is impossible logically speaking, but I sure can cast a big shadow over your conclusion
A flu shot, like has been said before, doesn't give you the flu. It's like training for a big fight, you're going to fight before hand so that when the BIG fight comes, you're ready for it and don't go down.
If you're in the Sioux Falls area you can come in to Dakota Allergy and Asthma and get your flu shot, hours are shown on our website at
A flu shot, like has been said before, doesn't give you the flu. It's like training for a big fight, you're going to fight before hand so that when the BIG fight comes, you're ready for it and don't go down.
well getting the flu shot caused by immune system to attack all of the muscles and nerves in my legs. Since your heart is a muscle doctors told me to prepare to die. Seven patients losing their hair should not lead to a recommendation to take the flu shot. My neurologist says giving a shot that triggers your immune system to someone whose immune system does not act normally is like playing russian roulette.
flu almost killed me:
Couple questions
1. How do you know it was the flu shot? Besides getting sick around the same time? Did they do any tests to determine objectively if that was truly the cause?
2. Do you have any pre-existing autoimmune or neurologic conditions? The situation you describe would be extraordinarily rare even in a patient with some kind of chronic illness, let alone a perfectly healthy individual. Ive never heard of a cross reactivity like that
What you describe sounds close to a Guillan barre type syndrome, or perhaps transverse myelitis. However, these are both strictly neurologic conditions, and do not affect muscles, per se.
A quick literature search by me did find some case reports of these type of reactions, but large studies did not show any statistically significant correlation between the vaccine and neuro problems like you describe
Thus, we can conclude that although your case sounds severe, it is certainly an outlier, it cannot conclusively be linked to the vaccine, and should not deter people from getting vaccinated based on the available evidence
What annoys me about this report/reporter, is that it doesn't provide complete information. Not just the scientific, as even the science community doesn't know that yet. BUT, it would be nice if he/she told us whether the regular flu vaccine includes protection for the swine flu. Do we need to get a second shot just for protection from the swine flu?
yes, the most recent seasonal vaccine protects against both seasonal and H1N1 (swine flu)
http://www.cdc.gov/flu/protect/preventing.htm
Rather be bald than mess my body up with all those toxins.
The flu's a whole lot more dangerous than the flu shot, and by not getting vaccinated you endanger more than just yourself and your family. You endanger the community. I got mine. You're welcome.
when you have the flu in 3 weeks, dont go to work.
Problem solved.
BS. These guys will do anything to "convince" people that getting a flu shot is good. I've never had a flu shot and haven't actually had the flu since I was a child and I'm nearly 30. Oddly enough everyone I know who has had a flu shot ends up getting the flu. Lets not forget there is no CREDIBLE evidence that even shows the flu shot works as advertised. All the "studies", if they can be called such, have been done by scientists who were hired by the shot manufacturers or an entity that has an investment in the shots. We already know that corporations will do or say anything (even if its not true) to sell their products.
And that is evidence of what? Meanwhile, when you look at a large population, you find that those who get the flu shot are about 50% less likely to get the flu than those who don't get the shot.
Yes that is how the clinical trial system works. Do you take any medication? If you do, then you take drugs that have been tested using a similar set of clinical trials.
Also what evidence--not anecdote, actual scientific evidence--do you have that the flu shot isn't effective?
If you make the claim that flu shots aren't effective, then back up your claim with scientific evidence, not innuendo and conspiracy theories.
Right Jwright... just like you're doing trying to convince us that it's dangerous...
Boy they sure are reaching now to get people to get a flu shot. Baldness? really? maybe weight loss should be the new catch. LOL.
Nice. Get a flu shot or some other vaccination and have a serious event or die within a few months of the shot - no connection.
Get the flu and your hair falls out a few months later - connection.
sadly they only connect things which make you NEED to get the shot. nicely put by the way. sums it up pretty nicely.
It is up to the individual to decide whether or not to get a seasonal flu shot. I don't get these shots and have yet to have the flu as a result. If you want the shot, get it. If you don't want the shot, don't get it. We all accept our responsibilities in that regard as individual who have a choice. Live a healthy lifestyle and, to the best of your ability, practice good "life hygiene", and don't let the headlines of sensational journalism scare you. Big Medicine is ALL about Big Money!
well, your theory falls flat when you transmit the flu to someone who has an compromised immune system through no fault of their own and they die as a result
I'm sure the hair loss has nothing to do with fallout from Japan.
never got a flu shot and never given anyone the flu cause I've never had it, then again i normally don't go to the flu ridden places during flu season...no shot for me, sorry Holly
Prevent the flu by taking vitamin D3. Your MD can check your levels. 5000 IU's usually the recommendation during winter months. D3 helps with depression too! It bis also inexpensive.
The drug companies will dream up anything to get you to part with your money.
The worst thing about this being that people go to work with the flu, claiming "I cant have the flu, I got my shot!" and then infect the majority of the office.
Happens where I work every year.
don't blame the shot for the ignorance of your coworkers
The flu puts a stress on the body, that's all. AA is typically triggered by stress. Any sickness can do it.
Of course, it is nothing particular to the flu, but because someone thought they could twist it around into a selling point, it becomes "news". Another hilarious article. What will it be next?
So does anyone know --clearly not this lame reporter -- do we need two shots; one for the regular flu, and one for the swine flu?? It's a simple question and requires just simple, baseline information How about some complete, accurateand USEFUL info, msnbc.
yes, the most recent seasonal vaccine protects against both seasonal and H1N1 (swine flu)
http://www.cdc.gov/flu/protect/preventing.htm
I'm already bald. Now what? I'll go blind? Sorry , that's something else.
Too late for that, bud. I have never gotten the flu, I am already going bald due to genetics, and have no intention of getting the flu shot. ((((yawn)))). NEXT!