Dr. Joe Whittington who is a specialist in Emergency Medicine, reacts to a video on Instagram, wherein a hair strand is wrapped around a baby’s toe.
The video starts with a reminder for parents to check the baby’s arms and legs for hair strangulation. Dr. Joe then shares insights about the lesser-known Hair Tourniquet Syndrome and its management.
The fact that it looks like a very minor issue which can happen at any time but will not end well, is the scariest part.
A parent's first priority would be the safety of their children. Especially in the case of new parents with a baby, it would be a tedious task. When your infant cries and you have no clue what is happening - the anxiety and panic a mom experiences at the time will be indescribable. Sometimes it might be a hair tourniquet that is irritating your baby. Let us get into the details of what is a Hair Tourniquet.
What is a Hair tourniquet?
A hair tourniquet occurs when a hair strand or a thread wraps around a body appendage leading to hampering of blood circulation.
It's a rare condition that occurs mostly in very young children below the age of 1 year. However, cases are reported in adults also.
Etiology:
Though the exact causes are unknown, these factors show the potential risk of hair or thread strangulation
Post-partum hair loss
Mother’s or caretaker’s long hair
Compulsive hair pulling
Using old clothes
Wearing mittens
Signs and Symptoms:
Inconsolable crying
Irritability
Discoloration around body parts
Swelling at sites
Pathophysiology:
Hair tourniquet – Torniquet is a device that compresses a limb or extremity to stop or restrict blood flow. So, when a strand of hair or thread becomes tightly wrapped around a finger or a toe, it gets strangulated. After strangulation, the site no longer receives adequate blood supply or ischemia happens, which eventually results in necrosis or tissue death.
Complications:
Baby will have pain, along with redness if it is the initial stage. Bluish discoloration at the site indicates cyanosis or lack of oxygen in the blood.
Treatment:
The video comes to an end as Dr. Joe sheds light on the treatment of Hair tourniquet.
Try to unwrap the hair.
if not possible then apply a depilatory cream (hair removal cream) to soak the hair, leave it on for 10 minutes and rinse with warm water, it should do the trick.
If this does not work out, go to the Emergency Room immediately where the health professionals can help. In mild cases, the hair can be cut out. In case the hair is embedded deeply, an incision under anesthesia would be required.
Prevention:
Brush and keep hair tied for no loose hairs
Do not use old or reused clothes
Always check from head to toe if the baby is crying without any visible cause.
Conclusion:
In short, hair tourniquet is a serious health condition, though a rare one. It occurs commonly in babies due to their small extremities.
As always, prevention is better than cure, so carefully check your little one if excessive loss of hair is noted. In addition, threads and rubber bands can also serve the same purpose as a hair strand, hence keeping it out of reach of infants.
Unfortunately, if any instance occurs, try to remove the hair as soon as possible. Quick management is vital to attain a good outcome and prevent further complications for the child. Get help from a medical professional if required.
Reference:
1. Templet, Tricia A., and Roger D. Rholdon. “Assessment, Treatment, and Prevention Strategies for Hair-Thread Tourniquet Syndrome in Infants.” Nursing for Women’s Health 20, no. 4 (August 2016): 421–25. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nwh.2016.06.005.
