Trichobezoar and Mental Retardation

Trichobezoar (A hair ball in the stomach), a specimen of which is usually found in pathological museum, occurs almost exclusively in females, and in 80% cases, the patient is mentally retarded, though it can also occur in neurotics and Schizophrenics. Trichobezoar when get blocked usually in the stomach, may give rise to gastroduodenal ulceration leading to haemetemesis, perforation, peritonitis or obstruction. In February, 1979, Miss. B. K. a 19 year old female suffering from Down's Syndrome was second time operated for trichobezoar causing obstruction. For same she had been operated 4 years earlier. Surprisingly her parents have never noticed the child pulling her hair, but did notice alopecia in last 6 years. Object of presenting this case is, that various complications and mode of death have been described for mentally retarded patients, but trichobezoar, as one of the possible complications and even mode of death by causing obstruction or haemorrhage, if adequate facilities for diagnosis and operation are not available or neglect (keeping mental retardation in view), had not been adequately discussed in Psychiatric books.