Trichobezoar-Induced Heartburn in a Teenage Girl: A Case Report

• Main Authors: Shahrazad Akbar MD, Lujayn Akbar MD, Nuralhuda Akbar MD, Ali Nawras MD, FACP, FACG, FASGE
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: SAGE Publishing 2018-05-01
• Series: Journal of Investigative Medicine High Impact Case Reports
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.1177/2324709618776345

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.