On June 24, Vietnam - Cuba Dong Hoi Friendship Hospital (Quang Tri) said that doctors had just successfully performed a case of removing a hair bun from the stomach of a 4-year-old girl, avoiding the risk of surgery.
Patient D.K. N (resident of Tuyen Phu commune) is currently recovering and is expected to be discharged from the hospital in the next few days.
Previously, the family discovered that the baby had abdominal pain around the navel for two days. Initially, the family thought it was a normal abdominal pain, monitored at home, but when the symptoms did not decrease, the baby was taken to the hospital. Ultrasound results revealed an abnormal mass in the stomach about 5.6x2.4cm, then the patient was indicated for digestive endoscopy.
Through endoscopy, doctors discovered two large piles of residue, mainly hair wrapped in food, forming a hair bun about 10cm long. The entire pile of residue was successfully removed by endoscopy, helping the child avoid the risk of surgical intervention.
In addition, test results also recorded severe anemia in the baby with hemoglobin only 74 g/L, small hypochrome red blood cells, suggesting prolonged iron deficiency. Experts warn that iron deficiency and abnormal eating syndrome are closely related, iron deficiency can cause children to eat non-food and vice versa.
Doctors recommend that parents pay attention when children have behaviors of eating hair, soil, sand, paper or strange objects. Close monitoring and taking children to the doctor early helps assess nutrition, anemia and behavioral problems, and prevent dangerous complications.
