#I think i have pica syndrome how to
#I think i have pica syndrome professional

The association between pica and iron deficiency anemia is so strong that most patients with iron deficiency will admit to some form of pica. The scant research that has been done on the root causes of pica suggests that the majority of those afflicted tend to suffer some biochemical deficiency and more often iron deficiency. , while children usually grow out of pica within a few months, people living with an intellectual disability could struggle with the disorder later in life.Pica is a medical disorder characterized by an appetite for largely non-nutritive substances (e.g., coal, soil, feces, chalk, paper, etc.) or an abnormal appetite for some things that may be considered foods, such as food ingredients (e.g., flour, raw potato, starch, ice cubes). In some instances, medications may be prescribed to address the associated condition causing the pica.

#I think i have pica syndrome professional

, other interventions - like working with a mental health professional - may be introduced to help train behaviour away from feeling the need to ingest non-food items.

#I think i have pica syndrome how to

Testing the blood for lead levels, using X-rays or other imaging techniques to examine what has been eaten, and examining stool samples can all be used to help determine how to treat pica. In many instances,įrom the patient’s diet and correcting that situation can solve the issue. Treatment for pica depends on what other factors are involved. People with diets severely lacking in zinc or iron may be more susceptible to developing the disorder as their body tries to correct the deficiency. This benchmark is particularly true for children, as putting foreign objects in their mouths now and then is a normal part of development. , 28 to 68 per cent of pregnant women experience pica and it is present in up to 10 per cent of people with a mental disability and 18.5 per cent of children.įor the behaviour to be diagnosed as pica, a person must show signs and experience symptoms for more than a month. While doctors don’t know exactly what causes pica, they do know that it tends to be more common in pregnant women, children, and people with an intellectual disability such as autism, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) or schizophrenia. While lead poisoning (from eating paint chips), intestinal blockages or tears (from eating hard objects), injuries to teeth and various infections are more serious symptoms. (NEDA), the substances that people with pica consume can vary widely from person to person depending on age, availability and associated conditions, but may include paper, soap, cloth, hair, string, wool, soil, chalk, talcum powder, paint chips, gum, metal, pebbles, charcoal, cigarette ash, clay, starch, or ice.īlood in the stool, stomach pain and bowel problems are all Picaįrom the Latin word for magpie, pīca - a bird known for its habit of eating pretty much anything.

Pica is an eating disorder where a person compulsively eats things that are not usually considered food or nutritious. But there is another clinically recognized eating disorder that is discussed far less often. When people think about eating disorders, they generally think of diseases like anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa or binge-eating disorder.