When Hair Causes Harm: A Rare Case of Intestinal Bowel Obstruction by a Trichobezoar Mimicking an Acute Intestinal Intussusception

TL;DR

A five-year-old girl experienced intestinal blockage caused by a trichobezoar, a rare condition that mimicked intussusception, causing diagnostic challenges.

Contribution

Highlights a rare clinical case where trichobezoar mimicked intussusception, emphasizing diagnostic difficulties in pediatric bowel obstruction.

Findings

Trichobezoar caused small bowel obstruction in a child with symptoms resembling intussusception.

Clinical presentation included bilious vomiting and progressive abdominal distention.

Case underscores the importance of considering trichobezoar in differential diagnosis of bowel obstruction.

Abstract

We report a rare case of a five-year-old girl with small bowel obstruction caused by an intestinal trichobezoar. The clinical picture was concerning due to the absence of symptom improvement and the emergence of bilious vomiting accompanied by progressive abdominal distention, raising suspicion for mechanical bowel obstruction. A rare and challenging clinical scenario arises when an intestinal trichobezoar mimics acute intestinal intussusception, leading to diagnostic confusion and potential treatment delays.

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