Question

After receiving a course of chemotherapy, a patient begins losing hair. This adverse effect of chemotherapy should be documented as?

1) pediculosis
2) alopecia
3) dandruff
4) hirsutism

Answer 1

The adverse effect of chemotherapy that causes hair loss should be documented as alopecia.

Step-by-step explanation:

After receiving a course of chemotherapy, a patient begins losing hair. This adverse effect of chemotherapy should be documented as alopecia. Chemotherapy targets rapidly dividing cells, which includes not only cancer cells but also those in healthy tissues such as hair follicles, leading to hair loss. Hair loss is a commonly observed side effect due to the destruction of hair follicles, which are sensitive to the cytotoxic drugs used in treatments. Unlike pediculosis, which is an infestation by lice, dandruff, which refers to flaking of the scalp, or hirsutism, which is excessive hair growth, alopecia specifically denotes hair loss.