Common Baby and Childhood Illnesses and Ailments- Hair & Scalp

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	The chart below summarizes common childhood scalp and head irritations. Note: This chart is only a guide and should not replace your doctor's advice.

Condition	What Are The Signs and Symptoms?	Is It Contagious?
Alopecia Areata	Bald spots with healthy underlying skin. Uncommon in babies.	No
Cradle Cap (Infantile or neonatal seborrhoeic dermatitis, crusta lactea, milk crust, honeycomb disease)	Non-itchy, oily, yellow, crusty, scaly skin rash that occurs on the scalp. Common in newborns. Usually clears up in the first 6 to 12 months.	No
Dehydration	More than six hours without a wet diaper; dry mouth; lethargy; sunken soft spot on head; sunken eyes; skin that does not bounce back when pinched and released; irritability; increased heart rate and respiratory rate.	No
Head Lice	Itching around the head and ears; tiny, hard-to-see bugs on the scalp that may be dark or light.	Yes; until treated.
Ringworm	Mildly itchy rash with dime- to quarter-size red rings that are crusty or scaly on the outside and smooth in the center; may appear as circular patches on scalp with redness and scaling.	Yes; until after 24 hours of anti-fungal treatment.