Abstract
One of the most commonly encountered medical problems affecting all age groups in health care is abdominal pain. There are many surgical and medical causes behind this symptom; however, a rare cause of abdominal pain and other unspecific abdominal complaints are gastric bezoars. Gastric bezoars are defined as the accumulation of undigested or partially digested foreign materials in the stomach. They are typically found incidentally during upper endoscopy. Patients may present with abnormal behavior or eating disorders such as pica. Therefore, proper history taking and establishing a good rapport with the patient play a key role in diagnosis. We present a case of trichobezoar-induced heartburn in an 18-year-old female. In this article, we will discuss the types, risk factors, clinical picture, diagnosis, and treatment of this condition.
Highlights
Gastric bezoars are defined as the accumulation of undigested or partially digested foreign materials in the stomach
The word trichobezoar originates from the word “bazahr” used by Arab medical writers to describe poison antidotes extracted from an animal’s abdomen, and the Greek word for hair, “trich.” The condition is often associated with trichotillomania and/or trichophagia
Bezoars are a rare cause of abdominal pain and other unspecific abdominal complaints such as heartburn, constipation, and anorexia
Summary
Gastric bezoars are defined as the accumulation of undigested or partially digested foreign materials in the stomach. Bezoars are a rare cause of abdominal pain and other unspecific abdominal complaints such as heartburn, constipation, and anorexia. Thorough history taking in cases with unspecific gastrointestinal symptoms in the absence of a probable underlying cause should include inquiring about excessive ingestion of such materials. This is a case of an 18-year-old Caucasian female who was referred to us from an outlying facility for evaluation of heartburn and chronic abdominal pain. The patient started experiencing the pain several months before presentation. The patient gave no history of previous surgeries. The patient recovered well and was discharged home with psychiatry clinic follow-up
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