UP woman complains of severe stomach ache, doctors remove 2-kg hairball

The woman has been battling a psychological disorder characterised by the compulsive urge to eat hair. Over 15 years, she accumulated a massive bundle of hair in her stomach.

In Short

• Woman suffered from rare hair eating disorder for 15 years
• Condition caused significant blockage and severe stomach pain
• This was the first such case in Bareilly in over 25 years

Doctors in Uttar Pradesh's Bareilly removed a 2-kilogram hair bundle from the stomach of a 31-year-old woman, who was suffering from a rare disorder causing her to compulsively eat hair for over 15 years.

The patient, who had been experiencing severe stomach pain for a prolonged period, was diagnosed with tricholotomania, a rare psychological disorder characterised by the compulsive urge to eat hair. This is arguably the first known case of tricholotomania in Bareilly in over 25 years.

The woman had been battling this condition since the age of 16. Over the years, the accumulation of hair in her stomach had led to a significant blockage and intense discomfort. Despite seeking treatment at a private hospital, she had failed to find relief.

On September 22, the woman was admitted to Bareilly's state-run Maharana Pratap District Hospital. After a series of tests, the medical team, led by senior surgeon Dr MP Singh and Dr Anjali Soni, decided that surgery was necessary.

They removed the massive hair bundle, which occupied a significant portion of her stomach.

Following the surgery, the woman was discharged from the hospital and is currently undergoing psychological counselling to address the underlying causes of her condition, doctors said.

Inputs by Krishna Raj from Bareilly