30-Year-Old Woman's Persistent Stomach Pain Reveals Giant Hairball in Stomach
Trichobezoar linked to untreated trichotillomania and trichophagia, highlighting severe mental health consequences
Quick Look
A 30-year-old Indian woman, Shashi, underwent surgery at Amrita Hospital in Faridabad to remove a giant hairball (trichobezoar) from her stomach, caused by years of swallowing hair due to trichotillomania and trichophagia, underscoring the dangerous physical consequences of untreated mental health disorders.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
Trichotillomania and trichophagia are mental health disorders that can lead to severe physical complications if untreated.
A 30-year-old woman in India underwent surgery to remove a giant hairball from her stomach, a condition known as trichobezoar, caused by years of swallowing her hair due to trichotillomania and trichophagia. The patient, identified as Shashi, had been experiencing persistent stomach pain, nausea, and a feeling of fullness since February. Diagnostic tests at Amrita Hospital in Faridabad, Haryana, revealed the large hairball. A team of surgeons successfully removed the mass via exploratory laparotomy.
The case highlights the severe physical consequences of untreated mental health disorders. Trichotillomania, characterized by an uncontrollable urge to pull out one’s hair, and trichophagia, the act of eating the pulled hair, can lead to trichobezoar formation. If left untreated, this can progress to Rapunzel Syndrome, a life-threatening condition where the hairball extends into the intestines, causing blockages, perforations, or infections.
Doctors emphasized the importance of long-term psychiatric treatment alongside surgery to prevent recurrence. This case serves as a reminder of the critical link between mental health and physical well-being, urging early diagnosis and comprehensive treatment for such disorders.
What to Watch
AI outlook — possibilities, not facts
Increased awareness of trichotillomania and trichophagia in India
Likely · Within weeks
Open Questions
- What triggered the patient's trichotillomania?
- How common is Rapunzel Syndrome in India?
