bezoar

A bezoar (bee-zo-are) is a rare bird nowadays. It is an accumulation of foreign matter in the stomach or intestine. This material is usually ingested hair (trichobezoar) in an emotionally disturbed or retarded child with trichotillomania (compulsive hair-pulling and eating). In earlier days of premature infant care, formula feedings with high casein or calcium content could cause lactobezoars to form (massive, hard clumps of undigested milk curd).

The bezoar may completely fill the stomach and cause associated medical problems from the irritation it produces, as well as an understandable stomach ache. Treatment is either endoscopic or surgical removal.

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