The boy was diagnosed with a rare condition called ‘Trichobezoar,’ in which swallowed hair accumulates and forms a lump inside the stomach.
Ahmedabad: Doctors at Ahmedabad Civil Hospital successfully removed a large hairball and a shoelace from the stomach of a 7-year-old boy. The child, a resident of Ratlam in Madhya Pradesh, had been suffering from stomach pain, vomiting, and weight loss for the past two months.
Earlier, he had undergone surgery at a private hospital in Madhya Pradesh, but his condition did not improve. When brought to Ahmedabad, a CT scan and endoscopy revealed the presence of a hairball and a shoelace in his stomach. The boy was diagnosed with a rare condition called ‘Trichobezoar,’ in which swallowed hair accumulates and forms a lump inside the stomach.
After the surgery, the boy is now recovering well. Doctors have also provided psychiatric counseling to help him overcome the habit of swallowing such objects in the future.
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What is Trichoezoar?
Trichobezoar is a rare but serious medical condition in children, which is caused by the accumulation of swallowed hair mass in the digestive tract. This condition is most common in young women with psychiatric disorders, such as trichotillomania (TTM), where they have an irresistible urge to pull out their hair and swallow it. The term comes from “tricho” (hair) and “bezoar” (stomach mass).
Over the times, this indigestible mass can grow over time and lead to serious complications like gastrointestinal obstruction, perforation, and, in severe cases, is known as “Rapunzel Syndrome” when it extends into the small intestine. Its symptom include stomach pain, vomiting, nausea, loss of appetite, weight loss, or even a visible abdominal mass.
Common in Female Under 20
Trichobezoars are most common in females under 20 and have been reported in children as young as 1 year old. The hair usually comes from the patient, though animal hair, carpet fibers, or toys are occasionally involved. Surprisingly, only about 9% of patients have confirmed psychiatric disorders.
While usually confined to the stomach, trichobezoars can have long “tails” that extend into the esophagus or small intestine. In extreme cases, the mass can weigh up to 6.5 pounds.
