> At a Glance
> – 9-year-old Vietnamese girl hospitalized with complete intestinal blockage
> – Doctors removed a massive 1-meter hairball formed from years of hair eating
> – Child had undiagnosed trichophagia since age 2-3
> – Why it matters: Parents often dismiss hair eating as harmless, but it can cause life-threatening emergencies
A 9-year-old girl in Vietnam is recovering after doctors at FV Hospital removed a massive 1-meter hairball that had completely blocked her gastrointestinal tract, creating a life-threatening emergency.
The Emergency
The child, identified only as H., was brought to the hospital’s emergency department after several days of severe abdominal pain, persistent vomiting, weight loss and pallor.
Specialists from General Surgery, Gastroenterology, and Imaging discovered the dense hairball, tightly coiled from her stomach down into her small intestine.
Dr Le Duc Tuan of FV Hospital’s General Surgery Department explained:
> “During the examination, we noticed that the child’s hair was unusually brittle and standing upright, which prompted us to take a more detailed medical history. Only then did the mother reveal that the child had developed a habit of pulling out and eating her hair since the age of two or three.”
Years of Unnoticed Behavior
The family had not paid much attention to the hair-eating behavior, assuming it was harmless.
Hair cannot be digested, so years of hair pulling and eating (a condition called trichophagia) accumulated and hardened into a mass that developed into an intestinal obstruction.
Key facts about this case:
- Behavior started at age 2-3
- Went undetected for approximately 6-7 years
- Hairball measured nearly 1 meter in length
- Completely blocked the stomach outlet
Life-Saving Surgery
To remove the hairball, H. underwent a complex three-hour laparoscopic surgery that allowed surgeons to access the obstructed segment of intestine.
Gastrointestinal endoscopy helped identify the exact location and assisted with removal from the gastric side.
Recovery timeline:
- Immediate pain relief after surgery
- Resumed normal eating quickly
- Discharged five days after procedure
- Recent follow-up showed healthy weight gain
Warning for Parents
Dr Tuan emphasized that trichophagia is often associated with:
- Mild psychological disorders
- Habits formed in early childhood
- Conditions linked to stress and anxiety
> “If not detected early, this behaviour can lead to very serious consequences, even becoming life-threatening. In many cases, psychological support is also necessary to prevent recurrence.”
Medical Outcome
Following surgery, H. showed marked improvement in both physical condition and overall well-being.
Parents received guidance to:
- Closely observe the child
- Spend more time communicating with her
- Seek psychological consultation if behavior continues
Key Takeaways
- Hair eating in children should never be dismissed as “normal mischief”
- Trichophagia can cause life-threatening intestinal blockages
- Early detection and psychological support are crucial
- Surgery can successfully remove hairballs and restore normal function
This case highlights how a seemingly harmless childhood habit can develop into a medical emergency requiring complex surgery and ongoing psychological support.
