An unusual cause of gastric outlet obstruction in a young girl: Trichobezoar

Mahdi Bouassida, Hédi Charrada, Mohamed Fadhel Chtourou, Lamine Hamzaoui, Mohamed Monji Mighri, Mohamed Msaddak Azzouz, Hassen Touinsi, Sadok Sassi

Department of Gastrology, Mohamed Tahar Maamouri Hospital, Nabeul, Tunisia.
Department of Reanimation, Mohamed Tahar Maamouri Hospital, Nabeul, Tunisia.
Department of Surgery, Mohamed Tahar Maamouri Hospital, Nabeul, Tunisia.

DOI: 10.4236/ojgas.2012.24041                

Abstract

Trichobezoars are an infrequent form of bezoars formed from ingested hair. They are more common in adolescent females with history of trichotillomania. Exceptionally, it can occur in young children making the diagnosis difficult. We report the case of a 6-year-old girl with a history of abdominal pain, distension, weight loss, and attacks of vomiting. Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy revealed a trichobezoar occupying almost the whole gastric cavity. The gastric bezoar was removed by surgery. Gastric trichobezoar is exceptional in young children and can lead to stunting and gastric outlet obstruction. After definitive surgical or endoscopic treatment, pediatric psychiatric consultation should be opted for any mental disorder and for prevention of further recurrence.

Keywords

Trichobezoar; Young Children; Gastric Outlet Obstruction; Trichotillomania

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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