Rapunzel Syndrome: What causes the disease that forms hairballs in your stomach?

A few days ago, the doctors of the Kozhikode Medical College removed hair weighing 2 kg from the abdomen of a 15-year-old girl. They said that the condition occurs in youngsters who are highly stressed. Interestingly, the medical condition is known as 'Rapunzel Syndrome.' It is associated with trichotillomania, a psychological disorder where individuals have an irresistible urge to pull out their hair. Let's learn more about its symptoms and management.

What causes Rapunzel Syndrome?
Named after the fairy tale character Rapunzel, it is a psychological disorder where people suffering from it have the urge to pull out their hair. Sometimes, they also ingest the pulled-out hair strands, which eventually form a 'trichobezoar' or a hairball in their stomach. The exact cause leading to the condition isn't known, but it is believed to be a result of psychological factors like stress, and various genetic and environmental factors.

What are its symptoms?
Stomach pain, weight loss, nausea, vomiting and bowel obstruction are some of the symptoms of Rapunzel Syndrome. If the size of the hairball is big, it can also result in loss of appetite, gastrointestinal obstruction, abdominal inflammation and bleeding.

How to prevent it?
Do you feel you have the syndrome? Or is someone you know suffering from it? Seek the help of a mental health provider who can assess your condition right through behavioural interventions. It's important to learn some good stress management techniques, go for occupational therapy, develop healthy and good grooming habits like hair care and seek medical attention for proper management of your condition. At the same time, you should take the treatment of a gastroenterologist to see whether surgical procedures are necessary. Occupational therapists can also help patients with the syndrome with alternate coping mechanisms.