Doctors at Thanh Hoa Children's Hospital have successfully removed a hairball measuring nearly 20cm from the stomach of a four-year-old girl after she was admitted with persistent abdominal pain and vomiting.
The child had experienced recurrent stomach pain, nausea and repeated vomiting. Her family initially sought treatment at another medical facility, but her condition failed to improve.
After being transferred to Thanh Hoa Children's Hospital, doctors carried out examinations and diagnostic tests that revealed a foreign body in her stomach. Surgeons subsequently removed a hairball almost 20cm long that was tangled with numerous strands of fabric.
The girl's family said she had developed a habit of sucking and swallowing her own hair. Based on the surgical findings and her medical history, doctors diagnosed her with pica, a psychological disorder that causes people to eat or swallow non-food items such as hair, paper, soil, sand, fabric or plastic.
Doctors said hair cannot be digested after it is swallowed and gradually accumulates in the stomach, where it can form a compact mass. If left untreated, it may cause intestinal obstruction, stomach ulcers, internal bleeding, gastric perforation or bowel blockage.
They added that cases in which the hairball extends into the small intestine are known as Rapunzel syndrome, a rare but potentially life-threatening complication.
The hospital urged parents to seek medical advice if children develop habits such as pulling out and eating their hair or repeatedly putting non-food objects into their mouths. Doctors said treatment should include not only the removal of foreign bodies but also psychological assessment, behavioural therapy and ongoing monitoring to reduce the risk of recurrence.
