Girl, 4, with ‘stomach-shaped’ hair mass stuck in intestines diagnosed with ‘Rapunzel syndrome’
DOCTORS were stunned to find a giant ball of hair lodged in the stomach of a four-year-old girl.
Medics at the Institute of Medicine at Tribhuvan University in Kathmandu, Nepal described the clump of strands as a “stomach-shaped mass” with a “tail”.
They were able to safely remove it from the little girl.
The unnamed child was admitted to hospital after suffering pain and a visible lump in her stomach for a week.
She had also been vomiting and getting full after eating small amounts of food.
The tot had a history of eating her own hair.
Read more on rare conditions
The rare condition is known as trichophagia - also known as Rapunzel syndrome.
While Rapunzel is known for her long, flowing locks, this syndrome is not quite so fairy tale-like.
It's related to a condition called trichotillomania, where a person compulsively pulls out or breaks off their own strands.
About 20 per cent of people with trichotillomania eat their hair after pulling it out, causing hairball like blockages to clog up their digestive tract.
These hair masses can sometimes be dangerous and cause enough damage that a person might require surgery, according to the Cleveland Clinic.
The four-year-old girl's parents reported she'd been ingesting hair for a period of two weeks before she was taken to hospital, and the hair on her head was considerably thinner.
They said they had no family history of eating disorders, and the eating habits of the mother during pregnancy were “normal”.
Upon examination of the little girl, doctors identified a 4x4cm firm lump in her stomach, suggesting the presence of bezoars – masses of undigested material that can become stuck in the organ.
The child was evaluated for hair-related mental disorders trichotillomania and trichophagia, but doctors report she was not brought back for regular psychiatry follow-up appointments.
Signs of Rapunzel syndrome
People with trichotillomania feel an intense urge to pull their hair out and they experience growing tension until they do.
After pulling their hair out, they feel a sense of relief.
A person may sometimes pull their hair out in response to a stressful situation, or it may be done without really thinking about it.
Most people with trich pull out hair from their scalp, but some pull out hair from other areas, such as their:
- Eyebrows
- Eyelashes
- Genital area
- Beard or moustache
A common sign of the condition are bald patches on the head that may have an unusual shape and affect one side of the head more than the other.
Trich usually starts between the ages of 10 and 13 years old.
See your GP if you're pulling your hair out or if you notice that your child is.
You should also see your GP if you or your child has a habit of eating hair.
This can cause hairballs to form in the stomach, leading to serious illness.
Key signs of Rapunzel syndrome include:
- Abdominal pain or swelling
- A mass developed in the upper abdomen
- Bad breath
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Feeling full from eating small portions
- Weight loss
If your GP thinks you have trich, you may be referred for a type of treatment called cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT).
If you are under 18, this may be offered through your local children and young people's mental health services.
Source: NHS