Abstract
Background: Phytobezoars are concretions of non-digestible vegetative matter in the gastrointestinal tract and are a rare cause of intestinal obstruction in children. Case presentation: We report a case of intestinal obstruction in a 2-day-old neonate with no specific radiological features pointing to any common etiology. On exploratory laparotomy, a swollen raisin was found impacted in the ileum causing intestinal obstruction. The history taken in retrospect revealed that the elder sibling had witnessed her father perform a traditional ritual of putting a drop of honey into the mouth of the newborn and she imitated the same with a raisin, which led to the obstruction. Conclusion: A careful detailed history of local traditional rituals is at times, the most important pointer towards the etiology of a clinical condition. The basic clinical skill of history taking is still very important, despite the availability of advanced radiological investigations.
Highlights
A careful detailed history of local traditional rituals is at times, the most important pointer towards the etiology of a clinical condition
Neonatal intestinal obstruction is commonly caused by small bowel atresia, intestinal malrotation, Hirschsprung’s disease, or meconium ileus, with subtle differences in clinical and radiological findings
Intestinal bezoars are a rare cause of intestinal obstruction in children
Summary
A careful detailed history of local traditional rituals is at times, the most important pointer towards the etiology of a clinical condition. The basic clinical skill of history taking is still very important, despite the availability of advanced radiological investigations
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