Trichotillomania with Giant Gastric Trichobezoar in a Female Child: A Case Report

The document is a case study of an 11-year-old girl diagnosed with Trichotillomania (TTM), a mental disorder causing self-inflicted hair pulling, leading to the formation of a 2.5 lbs gastric trichobezoar (hair ball) due to hair ingestion. The patient presented symptoms like abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting, and also showed signs of diffuse alopecia and nutritional deficiency. The treatment plan included a shampoo for thin hair, multivitamins with iron supplements, and a TTM treatment program. The patient was also referred for mental evaluation, where she admitted to pulling out her hair and eating it. The psychiatrist recommended selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors and cognitive-behavioral therapy. The study emphasizes the importance of a multidisciplinary approach for proper diagnosis and management of TTM and trichophagia, and the need for long-term follow-up and family education.