[Obstructive syndrome caused by trichobezoars: historical disease or disease still current? Description of a case in adolescence].
Trichobezoars are masses of entangled material, found in the stomach and intestines, composed of hair ingested by the patient. When the mass grows, symptoms of intestinal occlusion can appear. Trichobezoars in pediatrics are usually found in adolescent females presenting personality disorders and trichophagia. This work describes a case of trichobezoar diagnosed in a 13 year-old girl, wearing a brace for serious scoliosis but absolutely normal from the emotional and psychical point of view, with normal scholastic and familiar situation. Already hospitalized three months before for pneumonia from mycoplasma, the girl comes to our observation for the appearance of vomiting and constipation. The clinical examination reveal an epigastric mass as big as an orange. General conditions and hematochemical tests are good. Lab tests are performed (abdomen echography and upper abdomen MNR) but is the oesophago-gastroscopy which allows the diagnosis. A big trichobezoar is then surgically removed and the gastroenteric symptoms completely disappear.
Dipartimento Materno-Infantile, ASL 13, Ascoli Piceno.
P
P
Candelotti
M
M
Tulli
R
R
Pasquini
A
A
Carlucci
N
N
Tomassini
M
M
Tosti
D000293:Adolescent; D001630:Bezoars / Q000150:complications*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007415:Intestinal Obstruction / Q000209:etiology*