Rapunzel Syndrome

Rapunzel Syndrome Latest News

Kerala doctors recently removed a One-kg hair mass from a nine-year-old girl’s stomach and small intestine in a rare Rapunzel syndrome surgery.

About Rapunzel Syndrome

• Rapunzel syndrome is a very rare condition in which a large hair ball (trichobezoar) gets lodged in your stomach and extends into your small intestine.  
• The condition was first described in 1968. It’s named after a fairy-tale character, Rapunzel, who was known for her long hair. 
• This condition is much more common among women than men. And in about 8 out of 10 cases, it’s seen among children, adolescent girls, and young women under 30. 
• What Causes Rapunzel Syndrome?
  • The condition is strongly linked to trichotillomania and trichophagia. 
  • Trichotillomania is a disorder wherein a person repeatedly feels the urge to pull out their own hair, and trichophagia is a condition wherein the pulled or loose hair is swallowed.
  • These behaviours can occur alongside psychological or emotional difficulties, although not every person with hair-eating behaviour has an underlying psychiatric disorder. 
  • Over time, repeatedly swallowed hair can collect in the stomach because it cannot be broken down or digested. 
  • More hair gradually gets trapped in the existing mass, making it larger and harder. 
  • In some cases, the mass eventually extends into the small intestine, resulting in Rapunzel syndrome. 
• Symptoms are usually caused by the blockage or related health problems. This can include:
  • Stomach pain
  • Bloating
  • Feeling full
  • Weight loss
  • Nausea
  • Low weight and intense fear of weight gain (anorexia nervosa)
  • Vomiting after meals
  • Pain or discomfort under your ribcage (acute epigastric pain)
  • Patchy hair loss on your scalp (alopecia)
  • Bad breath (halitosis)
• Treatment:
  • Endoscopy can sometimes be used to remove smaller hairballs, but very large masses or those causing obstruction generally require surgery.  
  • Surgery involves removing the hair mass from the stomach and, when necessary, the intestine.

News: MID

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