Pica and Related Disorders

By: Rhonda Barlow-Glynn County

Pica

AN EATING DISORDER IN WHICH NON-AN EATING DISORDER IN WHICH NON-NUTRITIONAL OBJECTS ARE EATENNUTRITIONAL OBJECTS ARE EATEN

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

Most Prevalent In

Children ages 1-6Children ages 1-6Pregnant womenPregnant womenCertain culturesCertain culturesMentally deficientMentally deficient

ClayClayDirtDirtAnimal FecesAnimal FecesChalkChalkIceIceHairballsHairballsPaint or Paint chipsPaint or Paint chipsSandSand

Persons with Pica Tend to Eat

Nutrient deficiencies- especially iron Nutrient deficiencies- especially iron and zincand zinc

StressStressOCD- Obsessive Compulsive DisorderOCD- Obsessive Compulsive DisorderDevelopmental disordersDevelopmental disordersMental disordersMental disorders

Possible Causes

Treatment

Begins with checking for and Begins with checking for and correcting nutrient correcting nutrient deficiencies.deficiencies.

May need to include behavioral May need to include behavioral or emotional treatments.or emotional treatments.

Amylophagia

Eating purified starch (laundry or Eating purified starch (laundry or cornstarch)cornstarch)

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

Pregnant WomenPregnant WomenAfrican American WomenAfrican American WomenChildren under three Children under three Persons with OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Persons with OCD (Obsessive Compulsive

Disorder)Disorder)Certain cultures or religious traditionsCertain cultures or religious traditionsThose with mental disabilitiesThose with mental disabilities

Most Prevalent In

Iron deficiency anemiaIron deficiency anemiaInfectionInfectionMalnutritionMalnutritionA hard mass could develop in A hard mass could develop in

the abdomenthe abdomen

Complications

Geophagia

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

Causes:Causes:Usually due to inadequate diet Usually due to inadequate diet Mineral deficiency Mineral deficiency May be part of a cultural traditionMay be part of a cultural tradition

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

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

Most Prevalent In

Pagophagia

Excessive eating of iceExcessive eating of iceCauses:Causes:

Iron deficiency anemia Iron deficiency anemia Low zincLow zinc

Ice may relieve pain due to GlossitisIce may relieve pain due to Glossitis Glossitis is inflammation of the tongue due to iron Glossitis is inflammation of the tongue due to iron

deficiency anemia.deficiency anemia.

Check for and treat iron Check for and treat iron deficiency anemia and/or low deficiency anemia and/or low

zinc levelszinc levels..

Treatment

Plumbism

Lead poisoning due to the Lead poisoning due to the consumption of lead paintconsumption of lead paint

In children:In children:AnemiaAnemiaSevere Severe

stomachachestomachacheMuscle Muscle

weaknessweaknessBrain damageBrain damage

In adults:In adults:InfertilityInfertilityIncreased blood Increased blood

pressurepressureNerve disordersNerve disordersMuscle/joint Muscle/joint

painpain

May Cause