Related Experiment Videos
[Trichophagia treated successfully by intravenous iron injections]
C Hadnagy1, P Binder, J Grauzer
1II. Belgyógyászati Klinika és Gyermekpsychiátriai Poliklinika, Marosvásárhely, Románia.
Insights
This case study shows intravenous iron injections effectively treated trichophagia (hair eating) in a child, suggesting a link between cerebral iron levels and this eating disorder.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Psychology
- Neurochemistry
- Gastroenterology
Background:
- Trichophagia, the compulsive eating of hair, is a rare disorder often associated with psychological distress.
- Previous treatment with oral and intramuscular iron yielded only temporary results in a 3-year-old patient.
- The patient, a highly intelligent 10-year-old girl, resumed hair eating despite normal anemia and serum iron levels.
Observation:
- The recurrence of trichophagia prompted a re-evaluation of treatment strategies.
- Intravenous iron injections were administered to address potential localized iron deficiency.
- The treatment resulted in the immediate cessation of the compulsive hair-eating behavior.
Findings:
- Intravenous iron administration effectively resolved trichophagia in this pediatric case.
- The success of intravenous iron suggests a specific neurological or biochemical basis for the disorder.
- Normal systemic iron levels do not exclude localized iron deficiency in brain regions affecting behavior.
Implications:
- This case highlights the potential efficacy of intravenous iron therapy for refractory trichophagia.
- It suggests that localized iron deficiency in cerebral ganglia may underlie certain psychic anomalies like trichophagia.
- Further research into neurochemical imbalances and targeted iron supplementation is warranted for similar cases.
Abstract:
The case of a trichophagic child is presented. Oral and intramuscular iron therapy brought only temporary effect at the age of 3. Seven years later the 10-year-old highly intelligent girl ate again hair. She was not anaemic and her serum iron level was not low. Intravenous iron injections applied again ceased immediately the psychic aberration that did not return even after 4 years. The authors are of the opinion that in cases of such psychic anomalies the iron content of the iron-rich cerebral ganglia is lower than normal and the disturbance can be ceased by the administration of iron.