"Daughter Who Often Ate Hair Doubled Her Weight After Removing Hairball"

"14 Years Eating Hair"
30cm Hair Ball Removed Through Surgery
Trichophagia, a Type of Eating Disorder

A case was reported where a clump of hair was found in the stomach of a teenage adolescent who had been eating hair for over ten years due to trichophagia.

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Medical staff at Aleppo University Hospital in Syria recently revealed that Ms. A (18) visited the hospital complaining of repeated vomiting and loss of appetite for a month. According to the hospital, Ms. A said, "I have only been drinking water for the past three years," and her pale appearance and emaciated body were noticeable. An abdominal examination revealed an unidentified mass extending from her upper abdomen down to her navel.

Ms. A's parents reported that "our daughter has a habit of chewing her hair," and the medical team suspected trichophagia, leading to exploratory surgery. As a result, a 30 cm-sized hairball was removed from Ms. A's stomach. It was determined that she had been pulling out and eating her own hair and the short, stiff hairs caught in her comb for about 14 years. Fortunately, Ms. A showed good condition during a six-month follow-up after surgery, and her weight increased from 35 kg to 65 kg, more than doubling as she regained her health.

Trichophagia is a type of eating disorder characterized by the repeated consumption of non-food items. The causes of trichophagia are unclear but are known to be associated with nutritional deficiencies, extreme anxiety and stress, chronic depression, and drug addiction. It can also occur in pregnant women, individuals with autism spectrum disorder, or intellectual disabilities.

Earlier in August, a man in his 30s in Iran visited a hospital with abdominal pain and vomiting symptoms, and over 400 metal objects were removed from his stomach. He was addicted to opium at the time and was diagnosed with trichophagia by the hospital. Additionally, last month, the Bethel Children's Center at Bielefeld University in Germany found a rubber glove in the stomach of a teenage adolescent from Ukraine. Medical staff suspected trichophagia after confirming that the boy's vomit contained unidentified strings and small pieces of plastic.