On 16/7, a 5-year-old boy was admitted to Ninh Thuan General Hospital suffering from stomach pain, vomiting, and exhaustion. Doctors discovered a hard mass in his upper abdomen, mobile and nearly filling his stomach and part of his duodenum. An ultrasound revealed a distended stomach containing an 87 mm mass along with clumps of undigested food measuring 48x115 mm.

Surgeons operated and removed a hairball weighing approximately 0.5 kg. This mass had almost completely filled the boy's stomach and a portion of his duodenum.

Doctor Ung Van Hieu, Deputy Head of the General Surgery Department at Ninh Thuan General Hospital, said the child had Rapunzel syndrome, a rare disorder characterized by the ingestion and accumulation of hair in the stomach, which can lead to serious health issues.

This syndrome is often seen in children and adolescents, frequently linked to psychological and neurological factors. The accumulated hair in the stomach can form a mass, causing bowel obstruction, stomach ulcers, and even perforation. Common symptoms include abdominal pain, nausea, weight loss, and digestive problems.

"If a child exhibits unusual signs such as compulsive hair eating, they should be taken to a medical facility for prompt treatment," Dr. Hieu said.

Bui Toan