Individuals who have pica are known to compulsively consume items that do not have any nutritional value. An individual might eat relatively harmless items such as ice while others might consume potentially dangerous items such as metal pieces or dried paint. The ingestion of potentially dangerous items can result to serious health consequences that can affect the GI tract.
This condition typically occurs among children and pregnant women but usually temporary. A doctor should be consulted right away if an adult or child could not help eat non-food items. Immediate treatment can help avoid potentially detrimental side effects. Pica can also occur among those who have intellectual disabilities. Remember that it is often severe and long-lasting among those who have severe developmental disabilities.
Indications of pica
Individuals with pica consume non-food items on a regular basis. The behavior should last for at least a month to be considered as one. If an individual has pica, he/she might regularly consume things such as:
- Soap
- Ice
- Clay
- Buttons
- Glue
A doctor should be consulted right away if an adult or child could not help eat non-food items. - Hair
- Paint
- Dirt
- Sand
- Chalk
- Cigarette ashes
- Unused part of a cigarette
- Feces
Possible causes
There is no exact cause for pica. In some cases, a deficiency in zinc, iron or another nutrient might be linked with pica. Iron deficiency or anemia might be an underlying cause of pica among pregnant women. The unusual cravings might be an indication that the body is attempting to replenish the low level of nutrients.
Individuals who have certain mental health conditions such as obsessive-compulsive disorder or schizophrenia might develop pica as a coping mechanism.
Diagnosing pica
Even today, there is no test available for pica. The doctor will simply diagnose the condition based on the history and other various factors.
The individual should be honest with the doctor about the non-foods he/she has consumed. This will greatly help in coming up with a diagnosis. The doctor will have difficulty determining if he/she has pica if the individual will not tell what he/she has been eating.
A blood test might be required to check if the individual has low levels of iron or zinc. This will allow the doctor to pinpoint if there is an underlying nutrient deficiency such as anemia. Remember that nutrient deficiencies might be oftentimes linked to pica.