In Lviv, doctors encountered a rare case where a 13-year-old girl suffered from Rapunzel syndrome, caused by the compulsive eating of her own hair. This led to the formation of a 35-centimetre hairball in her stomach, which became life-threatening.
The girl’s parents sought medical help due to complaints of abdominal pain and nausea. After conducting an ultrasound, doctors discovered a large foreign body in the child’s stomach and decided to operate immediately to prevent severe intestinal obstruction.
Surgeons performed a complex operation — a laparotomy, to remove the hairball, which completely conformed to the shape of the stomach and partially extended into the duodenum. The operation was successful, and the girl’s condition stabilised. She has already been discharged home.
Doctors emphasise the dangers of trichophagia, which can lead to serious complications such as ulcers, peritonitis, and even death. They urge parents to pay attention to symptoms such as abdominal pain, nausea, digestive disturbances, and the habit of consuming inedible items.