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
Persons with Pica Tend to Eat Clay Dirt Animal Feces Chalk Ice Hairballs Paint or Paint chips Sand
Possible Causes Nutrient deficiencies- especially iron and zinc Stress OCD- Obsessive Compulsive Disorder Developmental disorders Mental disorders
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.
Most Prevalent In Pregnant Women African American Women Children under three Persons with OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder) Certain cultures or religious traditions Those with mental disabilities
Complications Iron deficiency anemia Infection Malnutrition A hard mass could develop in the abdomen
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
Most Prevalent In 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.
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 Check for and treat iron deficiency anemia and/or low zinc levels.
Lead poisoning due to the consumption of lead paint Plumbism Lead poisoning due to the consumption of lead paint
May Cause In children: Anemia Severe stomachache Muscle weakness Brain damage In adults: Infertility Increased blood pressure Nerve disorders Muscle/joint pain