TLDR Rapunzel syndrome can show vague symptoms and needs long-term psychiatric care to prevent recurrence.
An 8-year-old girl was diagnosed with Rapunzel syndrome, characterized by a large trichobezoar extending from the stomach into the duodenum and jejunum, presenting with a palpable abdominal mass and anemia. Imaging confirmed the presence of the bezoar without mechanical obstruction. The patient had a history of significant hair loss and habits of trichotillomania and trichophagia. The study concluded that Rapunzel syndrome could present with non-specific symptoms, and significant hair loss along with psychiatric disorders should prompt further investigation. Long-term follow-up and psychiatric care were recommended to prevent recurrence.
December 2022 in “Discover Psychology” A young woman developed a bowel obstruction from eating hair from her weave to relieve anxiety.
6 citations,
January 2018 in “Acta dermatovenerologica Alpina, Pannonica et Adriatica (Tiskana izd.)” An 8-year-old girl with Rapunzel syndrome had a hairball removed from her stomach and intestines and recovered well after surgery.
9 citations,
January 2014 in “World journal of gastroenterology” A gluten-free diet stopped a child's hair-eating behavior and suggested she had celiac disease.
13 citations,
October 2004 in “Anais Brasileiros De Dermatologia” The document concludes that compulsive hair disorders, like trichotillomania, are complex and require careful diagnosis and treatment from both psychiatric and dermatological perspectives.
December 2008 in “The Internet journal of surgery” A 16-year-old girl with a hair-eating disorder needed surgery to remove a hairball from her stomach and small bowel.
30 citations,
August 2018 in “Dermatology and Therapy” Better-designed, long-term studies are needed to optimize treatment for trichotillomania and trichophagia.
