In a rare and shocking medical case, a 21 years old woman from Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, had approximately 2 kilograms of hair which was surgically removed from her stomach. The woman had been consuming her own hair since the age of five, a condition associated with trichophagia, a compulsive disorder in which individuals eat their hair.
The woman, hailing from Kargenga in Bareilly, was admitted to the hospital by her family on September 20, 2024, after experiencing severe abdominal pain. Following a CT scan, doctors discovered a massive accumulation of hair in her stomach, which had wrapped around the stomach lining and extended into her small intestine. Upon further questioning, the woman admitted to pulling out and ingesting her hair for more than 15 years.
A surgical team at the Bareilly district hospital successfully removed the 2kg hair mass from her stomach. The procedure relieved the woman’s abdominal pain and her condition improved significantly after surgery. According to the doctors, this kind of long-term hair consumption can lead to serious complications, including vomiting, intestinal blockage and other digestive issues.
The woman’s condition is known as trichophagia, a compulsive eating disorder closely linked to trichotillomania, where individuals repeatedly pull out their own hair. Trichophagia can lead to the formation of trichobezoars, which are hairballs that accumulate in the digestive tract. If untreated, the condition can cause malnutrition, intestinal obstruction and other health risks.
Doctors emphasized the importance of early diagnosis and psychological treatment for individuals with trichophagia, as the disorder can have life-threatening consequences if not addressed in time. Following the surgery, the patient is expected to undergo counseling to manage her hair-pulling and eating behaviour.
This was really shocking, have you come across any such instance in your acquaintance?
