Austrian man grows hair inside throat after smoking for over 30 years; know all about the rare condition

A 52-year-old man, a smoker for over 30 years, developed an extremely rare condition — hair growing inside his throat or endotracheal hair growth. The case, documented in the American Journal of Case Reports, mentions that the Austrian man presented with symptoms of chronic cough and persistent tracheal irritation as a result of smoking a pack of cigarettes daily for years. He first saw a doctor in 2007 after developing a hoarse voice, trouble breathing, and a cough that wouldn’t go away. That’s when doctors found inflammation and several hair growing inside his throat.

The patient informed the doctors of coughing out a “5 cm long hair once” and mentioned that he had been smoking cigarettes since 1990. The symptoms began in 2006, according to the case report. There’s more.

At age 10, he underwent a tracheotomy – which involved having the trachea cut open to allow an air tube to be put in place to help oxygen reach the lungs. The opening was later closed using a skin and cartilage graft from his ear, and this area subsequently became the site of hair growth. The report further mentioned that for 14 years straight, the man visited the hospital every year to get the hair plucked out. As per the treating doctors, the hair growth stemmed from his habit of smoking cigarettes.

The report further noted that the condition stopped only after the man quit smoking in 2022, and the doctors performed an endoscopic argon plasma coagulation, which involves burning the hair cells.

Let’s understand about the condition

Dr ChandraVeer Singh, consultant otorhinolaryngologist and head and neck onco surgeon, Wockhardt Hospitals, Mira Road said that the exact cause of endotracheal hair growth is not fully understood.

“Endotracheal hair growth is a rare condition where an individual experiences abnormal hair growth in the throat. Prolonged exposure to cigarette smoke can damage and irritate the tissues in the throat. It can further turn stem cells into hair follicles, leading to abnormal hair growth in sensitive areas of the throat,” said Dr Singh.

One might experience symptoms like difficulty in breathing, sore throat, chronic cough, snoring, hoarseness of the voice, and inflammation. “Abnormal growth of hair in the throat can cause discomfort and feelings of frustration. It can increase the risk of infection in the airway,” said Dr Singh.

Bronchoscopic images of the patient’s tracheal lumen before (A, B) and after (C) integral restitution (Source: American Journal of Case Reports)

Treatment options for endotracheal hair growth include endoscopic argon plasma coagulation, antibiotics, and anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial treatment. “If the hair is covered in bacteria,  doctors might advise taking antibiotics. Endoscopic argon plasma coagulation is a medical procedure that burns the hair root, ceasing further growth. The patient needs to go for a second procedure in the following year to prevent recurring occurrences of endotracheal hair growth,” elaborated Dr Singh.

If your endotracheal hair growth is associated with smoking then quitting smoking can be effective. “To prevent the growth of abnormal hair growth, regularly check or inspect the endotracheal tube for any unusual growth or inflammation. If you suspect abnormal growth of hair or experience certain symptoms then immediately consult experts or doctor for prompt diagnosis,” said Dr Singh.

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