Deliberate Ingestion of Stones Causing a Diagnostic Dilemma : A Personal Experience

Arshad Mahmood Malik

doi:10.12816/0024687

Abstract

Deliberate ingestion of foreign bodies is not a new subject especially in our society where such patients are neglected and their problems are rarely investigated properly. These kinds of problems usually have a compulsive driven and complicated elements involved which are very refractory to treatment and are often repetitive. Such a habit is mostly seen in children of very tender age but the situation is more worrisome when you come across adults who are otherwise considered normal but are found to have a deliberate compulsion to ingest funny things like papers, stones, jewelry and other injurious agents which can lead to life threatening complications. A very interesting case of a young girl is presented here which will certainly be beneficial to the surgeons as well as practitioners.

Highlights

Deliberate ingestion of foreign bodies is not a new subject especially in our society where such patients are neglected and their problems are rarely investigated properly
(5) There may be an element of seeking attention or escaping responsibilities in such subjects but most of the studies have suggested that the subjects are usually mentally retarded and have significantly low IQ
I was convinced to some extent but her urine reports were absolutely normal in contrast to her symptoms

Summary

Introduction

Deliberate and repetitive ingestion of different kinds of foreign bodies is a common and a global problem. [1,2] Such foreign bodies are usually food products or a piece of bone and are recovered but about 1% need surgical intervention. [1,2] Such foreign bodies are usually food products or a piece of bone and are recovered but about 1% need surgical intervention Such deliberate ingestions of foreign bodies are rare in conscious and healthy people but are frequently seen in psychiatric, insane and retarded adults. On examination the girl was of average built with mild anemia and a bit slow in her response to questions She was showing reluctance for further enquiry into her problem. This time there were 5 stones instead of 3 and they were in different positions in the abdomen Morning another X-ray performed and there were 6 stones in the upper GIT and in epigastric area. The mother of the patient was briefed about her condition and she was referred to a psychiatrist

Discussion

Conclusion