KKN Gurugram Desk | In a rare and complex medical case, doctors at Shri Krishna Medical College and Hospital (SKMCH) successfully performed surgery on a nine-year-old girl to remove a large accumulation of hair from her stomach. The girl, a resident of Sahebganj, was suffering from severe abdominal pain and malnutrition due to a rare mental health condition known as trichophagia, where individuals compulsively eat their own hair.
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Symptoms and Diagnosis
The girl was admitted to SKMCH on Saturday in critical condition. She presented with severe stomach pain, low hemoglobin levels, and had stopped eating for the past two weeks. Doctors immediately conducted diagnostic tests, including X-rays and CT scans, which revealed a large mass of hair clogging her stomach.
Head of Paediatric Surgery, Dr. Ashutosh Kumar, who led the surgical team, said, “The girl had been eating her own hair since she was two years old. Over the years, the hair accumulated in her stomach, forming a hairball roughly the size of a kidney.”
The Surgery and Medical Intervention
The medical team, including Dr. Narendra Kumar, first stabilized the girl through blood transfusions, as her hemoglobin levels were critically low. Once her condition was stable, she underwent a successful surgery on Tuesday. During the procedure, doctors removed the large hairball from her stomach.
“Hair is indigestible and can cause severe health complications when it accumulates in the stomach,” explained Dr. Ashutosh Kumar. He also highlighted that such cases are extremely rare and require both surgical intervention and long-term psychological care.
Understanding Trichophagia: A Rare Mental Health Disorder
The girl was diagnosed with trichophagia, a condition often associated with trichotillomania, where individuals compulsively pull out their hair. In trichophagia, the person not only pulls out hair but also eats it. Over time, the ingested hair forms a hard mass, known as a trichobezoar, in the stomach or intestines.
Dr. Kumar emphasized, “This is primarily a mental health issue. We are involving mental health experts to provide counseling and therapy to the child. Without proper psychological intervention, there is a risk of recurrence.”
Post-Surgery Care and Observation
The patient is currently under observation at SKMCH. Doctors are closely monitoring her recovery and have started working with mental health professionals to address the root cause of her condition. Counseling sessions for the girl and her family will be an integral part of her post-surgical care.
Dr. Kumar further added, “While the surgery was successful, addressing the underlying psychological condition is crucial to prevent future complications.”
Medical Challenges and Awareness
Cases like this highlight the need for greater awareness of mental health conditions, particularly in children. Trichophagia often goes unnoticed for years, as it may not show immediate symptoms. However, over time, the condition can lead to severe complications, including malnutrition, intestinal blockages, and even life-threatening situations.
Parents and caregivers are advised to watch for signs such as compulsive hair-pulling, hair-eating, or unexplained digestive issues in children. Early diagnosis and intervention can prevent such extreme outcomes.
A Remarkable Medical Feat
The successful surgery at SKMCH showcases the expertise of its paediatric surgery team and their commitment to providing advanced care even for rare and challenging cases. This incident also underscores the importance of addressing both physical and mental health together for holistic patient care.
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