I Had a High Fever For a Month, Then Started Losing My Hair a Few Months Later

Between 29/12/12 to 13/01/13, I experienced high fevers ranging around 105f/40degC.

During this period I consumed large amounts of ibuprofen and panadol(paracetamol) to bring down the temperature. On average, it was 4000mg of paracetamol and 4000mg of ibuprofen.

It was only about 2 weeks ago that I have suffered severe hair loss. Hair came out in the bunches whenever I combed my hair, and it would easily clog up the drain in the shower. What used to be one week’s worth of hair loss was now one day’s worth of hair loss. My hair is thinning and parts of my scalp are visible.

I have tried changing shampoos and eating chinese medicine. There are visible effects on the appearance of my hair (darker, shinier, less frizzy) but the hair loss still continues. I am a 22 year old female. Should I consult a doctor? Or should I wait it out?

Severe illness with fever as you described is known to cause hair loss, more so in women than men, though both sexes can be impacted. You should always see a doctor about your hair loss, particularly in your case because it is ongoing. If your hair will return, you should see it within a year of the illness. It could be permanent.