How to react in case of “strangling hair” in baby?

Tourniquet syndrome, or hair strangling, is a common phenomenon, but it can quickly turn into a tragedy if not detected in time. In question: a single hair… even a textile fiber! The bond wraps around a baby’s limb, most often a finger, and can then cut off blood flow, which can have serious consequences. Update with the pediatrician Arnault Pfersdorff.

What is Strangling Hair or Tourniquet Syndrome?

The phenomenon of strangling hair is caused by a single hair that comes twist around a finger, a toe, or even the tongue, neck or even the genitals of the newborn (penis, labia majora). And slowly but surely, the hair curls, tightens, and ends up make a tourniquet around the child’s limb. This syndrome is also called “tourniquet syndrome”, the name used for the instrument used to place a tourniquet.

What can be the consequences of tourniquet syndrome, or hair strangulation?

« The hair, or more rarely a textile fiber, is wound, like a lasso, around the fold of a phalanx of the baby », Explains pediatrician Arnault Pfersdorff *. “ Strangulation can be done in a toe, a finger or more rarely in the penis or clitoris ”. In some cases, we do not see the strangling hair because it is thin. This syndrome can cut off blood circulation, resulting in local edema.

The risk of amputation

« The toe gradually changes color to dark red. The pediatrician will use instruments to cut the knot that has formed around the limb. Above all, we must not leave it lying around », Warns Dr Pfersdorff. This can have dramatic consequences: twisted hair can cause hair loss. inflammatory edema, even in the most serious cases, a necrosis, if it is not detected in time.

In the extreme, and fortunately very rarely, strangulation caused by the hair can lead to amputation, if the tourniquet has already done significant damage.

How to react in case of “strangling hair” in baby?

To prevent tourniquet syndrome, or strangling hair syndrome, it is advisable toregularly inspect the body of her toddler, for example at bath time. If your child has a red, swollen finger or toe, and you see a twisted hair, you need to act quickly.

Carefully remove it gently by hand or with tweezers. If you do not succeed, you must consult your doctor without waiting. Likewise, if after removing the tourniquet caused by the hair, your baby’s limb does not regain its normal appearance, consult your pediatrician as soon as possible or go to the nearest pediatric emergency room.

Red and swollen fingers or toes, endless crying: what can alert

If you find that your baby is grumpy, cries a lot, constantly shows discomfort for no apparent reason, think of tourniquet syndrome, even if you do not see a hair! This can be very thin and invisible to the naked eye. Pay special attention to his fingers, but also to his toes and his penis. ” If a baby is inconsolable, we inspect sensitive areas of his body: ears, armpits, genitals, toes Advises Dr Pfersdorff.

Tourniquet syndrome: simple preventive measures

After childbirth, many mothers lose their hair, which can promote the phenomenon of strangling hair in a baby. Prevention, ” mothers who have just given birth and adults with long hair can tie them up when caring for babies “Advises Dr Pfersdorff. Another precaution to take: baby’s clothes should not be mixed with those of adults in the washing machine. “ We also check that there is no hair or textile fiber lying at the bottom of the sleeping bag, pajamas … », Adds the pediatrician. And we ensure irreproachable hygiene for baby.

Testimonial: “A single hair can be very dangerous for a baby”

Little Arthur’s mom didn’t understand why her son was inconsolable, until she discovered her son’s toe, red and swollen, squeezed by a hair. Impossible to remove it! It took the intervention of emergency physicians to prevent little Arthur from serious complications such as, in the worst case, an amputation. 

« I had never been told about it. Parents become aware of this syndrome once it happens to their child », Wrote the mother of the family in comment of the photos of the sore toe of her son.

She thus encourages parents to ” check diapers, play mats, socks, footed pajamas, sheets », And encourages adults to tie their hair. ” A hair seems harmless to us, but it can be very dangerous for our babies She insists.