Indian Doctors Remove Rare Hairball From Child’s Stomach

News Desk

Ahmedabad: Doctors at Civil Hospital, Ahmedabad, successfully performed a rare surgery to remove a large mass of hair, grass, and shoelaces from the stomach and intestines of a seven-year-old boy from Madhya Pradesh.

The child, identified as Shubham from Ratlam district, had been suffering from severe abdominal pain, vomiting, and rapid weight loss for two months. After initial treatment at a private hospital failed to improve his condition, his family shifted him to Ahmedabad for further care.

Medical tests, including a CT scan and endoscopy, revealed a massive trichobezoar—a clump of swallowed indigestible material—lodged in his digestive tract. A team of specialists carried out an exploratory laparotomy to remove the obstruction.

Hospital officials said the boy was kept on a restricted diet for six days after the surgery, and a dye test on the seventh day confirmed the operation’s success. He is now recovering under medical supervision.

Read More: https://thepenpk.com/stagnant-water-sparks-mosquito-crisis-in-flood-zones/

Doctors explained that the condition developed due to the child’s habit of swallowing non-food items such as hair and grass. A psychologist has been engaged to help him overcome the behavioral issue and prevent recurrence.

According to Civil Hospital doctors, trichobezoar is extremely rare in children, with a prevalence rate of only 0.3 to 0.5 percent. They warned that if left untreated, the condition could become life-threatening by obstructing the stomach and intestines.

Medical experts advised parents to remain vigilant about unusual eating habits in children, stressing that early intervention is crucial to avoid serious complications.