PICA
Many young kids put nonfood items in their mouths
at one time or another. They're naturally curious
about their environment and might, for instance,
eat some dirt out of the sandbox.
Kids with pica, however, go beyond this innocent
exploration of their surroundings. Between 10%
and 30% of kids ages of 1 to 6 years have the
eating disorder pica, which is characterized by
persistent and compulsive cravings (lasting 1
month or longer) to eat nonfood items.
About Pica
The word pica comes from the Latin word for
magpie, a bird known for its large and
indiscriminate appetite.
Pica is most common in people with developmental
disabilities, including autism and mental
retardation, and in children between the ages of 2
and 3. Pica also may surface in children who've
had a brain injury affecting their development. It
can also be a problem for some pregnant women,
as well as people with epilepsy.
People with pica frequently crave and consume
nonfood items such as:
dirt
clay
paint chips
plaster
chalk
cornstarch
laundry starch
baking soda
coffee grounds
cigarette ashes
burnt match heads
cigarette butts
feces
ice
glue
hair
buttons
paper
sand
toothpaste
soap
Pica is an eating disorder that can result in serious
health problems, such as lead poisoning and iron-
deficiency anemia .
Signs of Pica
Warning signs that a child may have pica include:
repetitive consumption of nonfood items,
despite efforts to restrict it, for a period of
at least 1 month or longer
the behavior is considered inappropriate for
your child's age or developmental stage (older
than 18 to 24 months)
the behavior is not part of a cultural, ethnic,
or religious practice
Why Do Some People Eat Nonfood Items?
The specific causes of pica are unknown, but
certain conditions and situations can increase a
person's risk:
nutritional deficiencies , such as iron or zinc,
that may trigger specific cravings (however,
the nonfood items craved usually don't supply
the minerals lacking in the person's body)
dieting — people who diet may attempt to
ease hunger by eating nonfood substances to
get a feeling of fullness
malnutrition , especially in underdeveloped
countries, where people with pica most
commonly eat soil or clay
cultural factors — in families, religions, or
groups in which eating nonfood substances is
a learned practice
parental neglect, lack of supervision, or food
deprivation — often seen in children living in
poverty
developmental problems , such as mental
retardation, autism, other developmental
disabilities, or brain abnormalities
mental health conditions , such as obsessive-
compulsive disorder (OCD) and schizophrenia
pregnancy, but it's been suggested that pica
during pregnancy occurs more frequently in
women who exhibited similar practices during
their childhood or before pregnancy or who
have a history of pica in their family
Eating earth substances such as clay or dirt is a
form of pica known as geophagia, which can cause
iron deficiency. One theory to explain geophagia is
that in some cultures, eating clay or dirt may help
relieve nausea (and therefore, morning sickness),
control diarrhea, increase salivation, remove toxins,
and alter odor or taste perception.
Some people claim to enjoy the taste and texture
of dirt or clay or other non-food item, and eat it
as part of a daily habit (much like smoking is a
daily routine for others). Pica may also be a
behavioral response to stress.
Another explanation is that pica is a cultural
feature of certain religious rituals, folk medicine,
and magical beliefs. For example, some people in
various cultures believe that eating dirt will help
them incorporate magical spirits into their bodies.
None of these theories, though, explains every
form of pica. A doctor must treat each case
individually to try to understand what's causing
the condition.
A child who continues to consume nonfood items
may be at risk for serious health problems,
including:
lead poisoning (from eating lead-based paint
chips or dirt contaminated with lead)
constipation or diarrhea (from consuming
indigestible substances like hair, cloth, etc.)
intestinal obstruction or perforation (from
eating objects that could block or injure the
intestines)
dental injury (from eating hard substances
that could harm the teeth)
parasitic and other infections (from eating
dirt, feces, or other infected substances)
Culled from KidsHealth
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