A case of rectal foreign body with histrionic personality disorder in a paediatric patient

Authors

  • Murad Habib The Children’s Hospital Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences Islamabad Author
  • Mansoor Ahmed The Children’s Hospital Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences Islamabad Author
  • Dr Rafi Raza The Children’s Hospital Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences Islamabad Author
  • Muhammad Amjad Chaudhary The Children’s Hospital Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences Islamabad Author

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.2311/4jez5y06

Keywords:

Rectal, Foreign Body, Paediatric, Histrionic personality disorder

Abstract

Background:

Rectal foreign bodies are extremely rare in paediatric population. They present with both a diagnostic dilemma and a challenging management, particularly in children with attention seeking behaviors or other mental illness.

Case presentation:

We present here a case of a 8-year-old boy with histrionic personality disorder having a foreign rectal body which got inserted accidentally during a play but could not be found upon clinical assessment. After confirming it by a plain abdominopelvic radiograph, fluoroscopic examination under general anesthesia confirmed the location of impaction. However, it passed spontaneously after oral laxatives.

Discussion:  Rectal foreign body in a pediatric patient with mental illness is quite a unique case. It is challenging at every step i.e. clinical assessment, diagnosis and treatment. In paediatric patients, rectal foreign body can have various causes, offer difficult diagnose and can be managed without surgical intervention.

Conclusion:

Non-complicated rectal foreign body in a stable pediatric patient is quite challenging to deal with. The diagnosis can be masked either due to mental illness or non-significant clinical assessment. The management shall be provided with laxatives and kept under observation. The parents of such patients should be appropriately educated, and psychiatric evaluation should always be considered.

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Author Biographies

  • Murad Habib, The Children’s Hospital Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences Islamabad

    Department of Paediatric Surgery, Resident Paediatric Surgery

     

  • Mansoor Ahmed, The Children’s Hospital Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences Islamabad

    Department of Paediatric Surgery, Resident Paediatric Surgery

    The Children’s Hospital Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences Islamabad 

  • Dr Rafi Raza, The Children’s Hospital Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences Islamabad

    House Officer, Department of Paediatric Surgery

  • Muhammad Amjad Chaudhary, The Children’s Hospital Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences Islamabad

    Emeritus Professor, Department of Paediatric Surgery 

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Published

04/17/2025 — Updated on 04/17/2025

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Issue

Vol. 1 No. 1 (2025): The Genesis of MedPulse: Pioneering Research and Clinical Excellence

Section

Case Reports

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How to Cite

A case of rectal foreign body with histrionic personality disorder in a paediatric patient. (2025). MedPulse Spectrum, 1(1), 05-08. https://doi.org/10.2311/4jez5y06