- pregnancy.
- developmental conditions, such as autism or intellectual disabilities.
- mental health conditions, such as schizophrenia.
- cultural norms that view certain nonfood substances as sacred or as having healing properties.
- malnourishment, especially iron-deficiency anemia.
How is pica treated?
One form of treatment associates the pica behavior with negative consequences or punishment (mild aversion therapy). Then the person gets rewarded for eating normal foods. Medicines
may help reduce the abnormal eating behavior
if pica is part of a developmental disorder such as intellectual disability.
What are the signs of pica?
- Stomach upset.
- Stomach pain.
- Blood in the stool (which may be a sign of an ulcer that developed from eating nonfood items)
- Bowel problems (such as constipation or diarrhea)
Is pica caused by anxiety?
In addition, pica symptoms sometimes increase when an individual is
experiencing extreme stress and anxiety
. Many pica eating disorders begin in childhood and relate to childhood experiences.
What are the 2 most common causes of pica?
Iron-deficiency anemia and malnutrition
are two of the most common causes of pica, followed by pregnancy. In these individuals, pica is a sign that the body is trying to correct a significant nutrient deficiency. Treating this deficiency with medication or vitamins often resolves the problems.
How do you prevent pica?
Can Pica Be Prevented?
There is no specific way to prevent pica
. However, careful attention to eating habits and close supervision of children known to put things in their mouths may help catch the disorder before complications can occur.
Is pica a form of autism?
“Pica, a
potentially life-threatening disorder
, is common in children with autism or intellectual disability.
What happens if pica is left untreated?
Even though pica disorder can be hard to detect in some individuals, it poses serious threats that
could prove fatal
if left untreated. Substances ingested could be poisonous, contain toxic chemicals, or be ridden with bacteria.
What are the complications of pica?
Complications of pica include:
inherent toxicity
; intestinal obstruction (such as that occurring with trichophagia, or hair eating); excessive caloric intake (such as that occurring with starch); nutritional deprivation; parasitic infections; and dental injury.
How common is pica in adults?
Pica in
adults is not very common
. However, it can be seen in many cultures and may even be encouraged to increase fertility.
Is pica a symptom of anemia?
Doctors use the term “pica” to describe craving and chewing substances that have no nutritional value — such as ice, clay, soil or paper. Craving and chewing ice (pagophagia) is often associated with iron deficiency, with or without
anemia
, although the reason is unclear.
What does pica stand for?
Pica (/ˈpaɪkə/ PIE-kuh) is a
psychological disorder characterized by an appetite
for substances that are largely non-nutritive. The substance may be biological such as hair (trichophagia) or feces (coprophagia), natural such as ice (pagophagia) or dirt (geophagia), and otherwise chemical or manmade (as listed below).
How can I satisfy pica cravings?
- Inform your health care provider and review your prenatal health records.
- Monitor your iron status along with other vitamin and mineral intake.
- Consider potential substitutes for the cravings such as chewing sugarless gum.
At what age can pica be diagnosed?
Most cases of pica happen in young children and pregnant women. It's normal for kids up to 2 years old to put things in their mouth. So the behavior isn't usually considered a disorder unless a child is
older than 2
.
Is pica inherited?
I've never seen
any literature suggesting pica is an inherited disorder
. I will note that a study (cited below in my response to question nine) suggests that Sickle Cell Disease is associated with a relatively high rate of pica and Sickle Cell Disease is an inherited condition.
How can I help my child with pica?
Put a favorite food on your child's plate
. Reward your child for eating from the plate and not putting the non-food items in his/her mouth. Talk to your child's doctor or nurse about having his/her iron and zinc status tested. Low levels of these nutrients can contribute to pica.
