Bezoar

A ball of food and mucus, vegetable fibre, hair, or other indigestible material, in the stomach. Trichobezoars, which are composed of hair, may form in children or emotionally disturbed adults who nibble at, or pull out and swallow, their hair. Symptoms include loss of appetite, constipation, nausea and vomiting, and abdominal pain. If trichobezoars pass into the intestines, they may cause obstruction (see intestine, obstruction of). Bezoars can be removed endoscopically or surgically.