Tricophagy or Rapunzel Syndrome

Rapunzel Tricophagia or Syndrome is a psychological disorder related to trichotylomania, in which the person infers his own hair.

Reference has been made to this disorder as a compulsive way to eat the hair of the head, eyebrows and even the eyelashes and, after starting it, proceed to eat it.

The purpose pursued by the person suffering from this syndrome seems to be the one to calm anxiety and anguish.

However, after time, The hair can be accumulated in the gastrointestinal tract, which would bring certain complications, then, the keratin found in the hair is not digested.

Thus, a mass is accumulated and a mass is formed whose only way to remove it is through a surgical intervention. This mass causes discomfort to the person, who begins to suffer from stomach or indigestion pains.

Tricophagy or Rapunzel Syndrome

Tricotylomania, or starting hair itself, was first described in the bibliography of the French psychiatrist Hallpeau, in 1889 and one hundred years later is that it was accepted as a psychiatric diagnosis, that is, in 1987. Of the people suffering from trichotylomania, only thirty percent eat their hair (trichophagia) and that percentage is considered that 1 % will require surgical treatment to remove tricobezoar.

When the tricobezoar tail extends until reaching the duodenum, then there is the symptomatology known as Rapunzel Syndrome.

This condition is called, in a literary way, due to the story of the brothers Wilhelm and Jacob Grimm, written in 1812, and in which reference is made to a young girl with the hair so long that she threw her braids so that the prince climb.

Rapunzel's parents, because they ate a prohibited fruit in the garden of a witch, their daughter was removed and she was locked in a tower. However, the prince saves her up by the girl's own braids.

Currently, Tricophagia patients show addiction for eating their hair And they do not realize the damage that can be causing until they begin to feel discomfort. That is when a surgeon saves the princess.

In summary, Rapunzel syndrome actually originates from trichotylomania, which, in union with the trichophagia, produces tricobezo with timer. Most of the reports that exist indicate that tricobezares occur more in women, and in 80 % they are under thirty years. Many times the diagnosis is complicated because the patient usually hides the trichophagia.

As indicated, Patients start the hair from the head, eyelashes, eyebrows, arms, legs and pubis. Therefore it is said that Rapunzel syndrome is actually an unusual way of gastric tricobezar with extension to the intestine.

According to doctor David Loja, in his study on Rapunzel syndrome: tricobezoar gastroduodenal, tricobezar is composed of hair, fragments of decomposition and mucus food.

It also indicates the case of an 18 -year -old teenager who was admitted to his institution with a history of major depression, and who experienced, for five months, nausea, weight loss of 15 kg and vomiting. Exam findings included abdominal pain and distention.

In addition, this patient suffered from severe anemia and in the gastroduodenal series showed gastric filling defect. This diagnosis was confirmed through gastroscopy, which revealed the presence of a tricobezoar with duodenal extension that was extracted.

Rapunzel Syndrome

Patients with this disorder hay their hair until they release it, which has led to the fact that Many specialists relate trichotylomania with personalities with obsessive-compulsive traits or impulsivity problems.

A person with Rapunzel syndrome could present as symptoms abdominal pain, loss of appetite, nausea, abdominal tension, weight loss, vomiting, intestinal perforation or bleeding.

Well, when you eat hair A ball is formed, which is the so -called "tricobezoar", which obstructs the intestinal walls and accumulates with body fluids and food remains. The presence of tricobezoar can be detected by abdominal ultrasound or scanner.

Tricophagy, in addition to what is indicated, You can have other health consequences, such as diarrhea, gum inflammation or poor nutrient absorption.

The 20 rare psychological disorders

Bibliography

• Flag, Creagh & Ferreiro, Pérez & Gámez Sánchez, Donelia. (2017). Tricotilomania / Tricophagy: Family dysfunction behaviors Communication of a case introduction.
• Jaramillo-Borges, Yasmín Maria. (2007). Tricotylomania, trichophagy and rapunzel syndrome. Costa Rican Medical Act, 49 (1), 4-5. Retrieved May 28, 2021, from http: // www.Scielo.SA.Cr/Scielo.PHP?script = sci_arttext & pid = s 0001-60022007000100001 & lng = in & tlng = it is
• Loja, d., Alvizuri, j., Vilca, m., & Sánchez, M. (2003, March). Rapunzel Syndrome: tricobezoar gastroduodenal. In an anals of the Faculty of Medicine (Vol. 64, no. 1, pp. 71-77). UNMSM. School of Medicine