Pica and Related Disorders

By: Rhonda Barlow-Glynn County

Pica

AN EATING DISORDER IN WHICH NON-NUTRITIONAL OBJECTS ARE EATEN

COMES FROM THE LATIN WORD FOR MAGPIE- A BIRD WHICH WILL EAT ANYTHING

Most Prevalent In

Children ages 1-6

Pregnant women

Certain cultures

Mentally deficient

Clay

Dirt

Animal Feces

Chalk

Ice

Hairballs

Paint or Paint chips

Sand

Persons with Pica Tend to Eat

Nutrient deficiencies- especially iron and zinc

Stress

OCD- Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

Developmental disorders

Mental disorders

Possible Causes

Treatment

Begins with checking for and correcting nutrient deficiencies.

May need to include behavioral or emotional treatments.

Amylophagia

Eating purified starch (laundry or cornstarch)

Cause-usually due to a lack of iron or zinc.

Pregnant Women

African American Women

Children under three

Persons with OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder)

Certain cultures or religious traditions

Those with mental disabilities

Most Prevalent In

Iron deficiency anemia

Infection

Malnutrition

A hard mass could develop in the abdomen

Complications

Geophagia

Eating earth or soil like substances such as clay or chalk.

Causes: Usually due to inadequate diet

Mineral deficiency

May be part of a cultural tradition

Africa- Pregnant women eat clay to relieve nausea and provide calcium.

Haiti- Clay is made into cookies called “bon bon de terres” in an attempt to supplement the diet when there is little food.

Most Prevalent In

Pagophagia

Excessive eating of ice

Causes:

Iron deficiency anemia

Low zinc

Ice may relieve pain due to Glossitis

Glossitis is inflammation of the tongue due to iron deficiency anemia.

Check for and treat iron deficiency anemia and/or low

zinc levels.

Treatment

Plumbism

Lead poisoning due to the consumption of lead paint

In children:

Anemia

Severe stomachache

Muscle weakness

Brain damage

In adults: Infertility Increased blood pressure

Nerve disorders Muscle/joint pain

May Cause