Bezoar
Definition
A bezoar is a ball of swallowed foreign material most often composed of hair or fiber. It collects in the stomach and fails to pass through the intestines.
Alternative Names
Trichobezoar; Hairball
Causes
Chewing on or eating hair or fuzzy materials (or indigestible materials such as plastic bags) can lead to the formation of a bezoar. The rate is very low. The risk is greater among people with an intellectual disability or emotionally disturbed children. Generally, bezoars are mostly seen in females aged 10 to 19 years.
Symptoms
Symptoms may include:
- Indigestion
- Stomach upset or distress
- Nausea and vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Pain
- Gastric ulcers
Exams and Tests
The child may have a lump in the abdomen that can be felt by the health care provider. A barium swallow x-ray will show the mass in the stomach. Sometimes, a scope is passed through the mouth (EGD or esophagogastroduodenoscopy) to directly view the bezoar in the stomach.
Treatment
The bezoar may need to be surgically removed, especially if it is large. In some cases, small bezoars may be removed using an EGD procedure.
Outlook (Prognosis)
Full recovery is expected.
Possible Complications
Persistent vomiting can lead to dehydration.
When to Contact a Medical Professional
Contact your provider if you suspect your child has a bezoar.
Prevention
If your child has had a hair bezoar in the past, trim the child's hair short so they cannot put the ends in the mouth. Keep indigestible materials away from a child who has a tendency to put items in the mouth.
Be sure to remove the child's access to fuzzy or fiber-filled materials.
References
Kliegman RM, St. Geme JW, Blum NJ, et al. Foreign bodies and bezoars. In: Kliegman RM, St. Geme JW, Blum NJ, et al, eds. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 22nd ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2025:chap 380.
Pfau PR, Benson M. Foreign bodies, bezoars, and caustic ingestions. In: Feldman M, Friedman LS, Brandt LJ, eds. Sleisenger and Fordtran's Gastrointestinal and Liver Disease. 11th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2021:chap 28.
Reviewed By: Charles I. Schwartz, MD, FAAP, Clinical Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, General Pediatrician at PennCare for Kids, Phoenixville, PA. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.
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