HealthlineSubscribeEverythingYouNeedtoKnowAboutPicaMedicallyreviewedbyKarenGill,M.D.—WrittenbyGretchenHolm—UpdatedonAugust2,2019SymptomsCausesDiagnosisComplicationsTreatmentOutlookOverviewPeoplewiththedisorderpicacompulsivelyeatitemsthathavenonutritionalvalue.Apersonwithpicamighteatrelativelyharmlessitems,suchasice.Ortheymighteatpotentiallydangerousitems,likesflakesofdriedpaintorpiecesofmetal.Inthelattercase,thedisordercanleadtoseriousconsequences,suchasleadpoisoning.Thisdisorderoccursmostofteninchildrenandpregnantwomen.It’susuallytemporary.Seeyourdoctorrightawayifyouoryourchildcan’thelpbuteatnonfooditems.Treatmentcanhelpyouavoidpotentiallyserioussideeffects.Picaalsooccursinpeoplewhohaveintellectualdisabilities.It’softenmoresevereandlong-lastinginpeoplewithseveredevelopmentaldisabilities.WhatshouldIlookfor?Peoplewithpicaeatnonfooditemsregularly.Thebehaviormustcontinueforatleastonemonthtoqualifyaspica.Ifyouhavepica,youmayregularlyeatthingssuchas:icesoapbuttonsclayhairdirtsandtheunusedremainderofacigarettecigaretteashespaintgluechalkfecesYoumayalsoeatothernonfooditems.Whatcausespica?There’snosinglecauseofpica.Insomecases,adeficiencyiniron,zinc,oranothernutrientmaybeassociatedwithpica.Forexample,anemia,usuallyfromirondeficiency,maybetheunderlyingcauseofpicainpregnantwomen.Yourunusualcravingsmaybeasignthatyourbodyistryingtoreplenishlownutrientlevels.Peoplewithcertainmentalhealthconditions,suchasschizophreniaandobsessive-compulsivedisorder(OCD),maydeveloppicaasacopingmechanism.Somepeoplemayevenenjoyandcravethetexturesorflavorsofcertainnonfooditems.Insomecultures,eatingclayisanacceptedbehavior.Thisformofpicaiscalledgeophagia.Dietingandmalnourishmentcanbothleadtopica.Inthesecases,eatingnonfooditemsmayhelpyoufeelfull.Howispicadiagnosed?There’snotestforpica.Yourdoctorwilldiagnosethisconditionbasedonhistoryandseveralotherfactors.Youshouldbehonestwithyourdoctoraboutthenonfooditemsyou’veeaten.Thiswillhelpthemdevelopanaccuratediagnosis.Itmaybehardforthemtodetermineifyouhavepicai

COVID-19:Advice,updatesandvaccineoptionsWeareopenforsafein-personcare.Learnmore:MayoClinicfactsaboutcoronavirusdisease2019(COVID-19)OurCOVID-19patientandvisitorguidelines,plustrustedhealthinformationLateston COVID-19vaccination bysite:ArizonapatientvaccinationupdatesArizona,FloridapatientvaccinationupdatesFlorida,RochesterpatientvaccinationupdatesRochesterandMayoClinicHealthSystempatientvaccinationupdatesMCHSSkiptositenavigationSkiptoContentThiscontentdoesnothaveanEnglishversion.ThiscontentdoesnothaveanArabicversion.SearchRequestanAppointmentFindaDoctorFindaJobGiveNowLogintoPatientAccountEnglishEspañolPortuguêsالعربية中文TwitterFacebookPinterestYouTubeEnglishEspañolPortuguêsالعربية中文SearchSearchAllMayoClinicTopicsCareatMayoClinicOverviewAppointmentsDigitalHealthCareLocationsPatient&VisitorGuideInternationalServicesMedicalDepartments&CentersDoctors&MedicalStaffPatientOnlineServicesBilling&InsuranceClinicalTrialsInternationalBusinessCollaborationsAboutMayoClinicContactUsHealthInformationOverviewDiseases&ConditionsA-ZSymptomsA-ZTests&ProceduresA-ZDrugs&SupplementsA-ZHealthBooksHealthyLivingProgramMayoClinicHealthLetterMayoClinicVoiceAppsHealthyLifestyleFeaturedconditionsBraintumor,breastcancer,coloncancer,congenitalheartdisease,heartarrhythmia.Seemoreconditions.ForMedicalProfessionalsOverviewProviderRelationsCareLinkOnlineReferralsContinuingMedicalEducationMayoClinicLaboratoriesAskMayoExpertVideoCenterJournalsandPublicationsResearchOverviewResearchFacultyLaboratoriesCoreFacilitiesCenters&ProgramsDepartments&DivisionsClinicalTrialsInstitutionalReviewBoardPostdoctoralFellowshipsTrainingGrantProgramsCollegeofMedicineandScienceOverviewMayoClinicGraduateSchoolofBiomedicalSciencesMayoClinicAlixSchoolofMedicineMayoClinicSchoolofContinuousProfessionalDevelopmentMayoClinicSchoolofGraduateMedicalEducationMayoClinicSchoolofHealthSciencesGivingtoMayoClinicOverviewGiveNowPhilanthropyinActionFrequentlyAskedQuestionsContactUstoGiveAppointmentsatMayoClinicMayoClinicoffersappointmentsinA

SouthernSudanMedicalJournalHomeArchiveNewsResearchClinicalGuidanceSearchSSMJAboutSSMJPicaasapersistenteatingdisorderassociatedwithirondeficiencyanaemia:twocasereportsAuthor(s):AzanANyundo(a),GodfreyMwasada(b),BonaventuraC.TMpondo(c)aDepartmentofInternalMedicine(DivisionofPsychiatry),SchoolofMedicineandDentistry,TheUniversityofDodoma,Dodoma,TanzaniabParadiseSpecializedClinic,Mbeya,TanzaniacDepartmentofInternalMedicine,SchoolofMedicineandDentistry,TheUniversityofDodoma,Dodoma,TanzaniaCorrespondence:AzanANyundo[email protected]AbstractIntroduction:Picaisamysteriousconditioncharacterisedbypatientsdevelopingcravingsfornon-nutritivesubstancesthatmayescalateintoseriousmedicalcomplications.Wepresenttwocasereportswithasomewhatunusualnatureofpresentationattributedtoirondeficiency.Thefirstisa25-yearoldAfricanwomanwithabnormaluterinebleedingpresentingwithafondnessforeatingclay,colddrinks,andicepacks.Thesecondis15-yearoldAfricangirlwhopresentedwithbleedingfromthenose,habitualsmellingofsoil,consumingicepacksandchewingrubberbands.Bothpresentedwithhaematologicalparametersdiagnosticofirondeficiencyanaemia.Conclusion:Despitebeingpractisedforcenturies,theclinicalsignificanceofpicasymptomsisoftennotrecognisedparticularlyamongtheyoungerphysicians.Bothourpatientsrespondedwelltomanagingtheprimarycauseofbloodlossandironsupplementation.Weareconvincedthatpicaisanimportantpointertoirondeficiencyandcliniciansshouldsuspectoccultbloodlossinapatientpresentingwithpicasymptoms.Keywords:pica,eatingdisorder,irondeficiencyanaemia,casereport. IntroductionPicaistypicallydefinedasthepersistentingestionofnon-nutritivesubstancesforatleastonemonthatanagewhenthisbehaviourisdevelopmentallyinappropriate.Thedefinitionisoccasionallybroadenedtoincludethechewingnon-nutritivesubstances.Picamaybebenign,oritmayhavelife-threateningconsequences[1].Theconditionismorefrequentinthosewithautismandintellectualdisabilities.Ithasbeenreportedinallages,andbothsexes,andisparticularlyprevalentamongyoungchildren,peopleoflowsocio-e

Pica(disorder)FromWikipedia,thefreeencyclopediaJumptonavigationJumptosearchCompulsiveeatingofnon-fooditemsMedicalconditionPicaStomachcontentsofapsychiatricpatientwithpica:1,446items,including"453nails,42screws,safetypins,spoontops,andsaltandpeppershakertops."Pronunciation/ˈpaɪkə/PY-kəSpecialtyPsychiatryPica(/ˈpaɪkə/PIE-kuh)[1]isapsychologicaldisordercharacterizedbyanappetiteforsubstancesthatarelargelynon-nutritive.[2]Thesubstancemaybebiologicalsuchashair(trichophagia)orfeces(coprophagia),naturalsuchasice(pagophagia)ordirt(geophagia),andotherwisechemicalormanmade(aslistedbelow).ThetermoriginatesfromtheLatinwordpica("magpie"),fromtheconceptthatmagpieswilleatalmostanything.[3]AccordingtoDiagnosticandStatisticalManualofMentalDisorders,5thEdition(DSM-5)criteria,fortheseactionstobeconsideredpica,theymustpersistformorethanonemonthatanagewheneatingsuchobjectsisconsidereddevelopmentallyinappropriate,notpartofculturallysanctionedpractice,andsufficientlyseveretowarrantclinicalattention.Picamayleadtointoxicationinchildren,whichcanresultinanimpairmentofbothphysicalandmentaldevelopment.[4]Inaddition,itmaycausesurgicalemergenciestoaddressintestinalobstructions,aswellasmoresubtlesymptomssuchasnutritionaldeficienciesandparasitosis.[4]Picahasbeenlinkedtoothermentalandemotionaldisorders.Stressorssuchasemotionaltrauma,maternaldeprivation,familyissues,parentalneglect,pregnancy,andadisorganizedfamilystructure[failedverification]arestronglylinkedtopicaasaformofcomfort.[5]Picaismostcommonlyseeninpregnantwomen,[6]smallchildren,andpeoplewhomayhavedevelopmentaldisabilitiessuchasautism.[7]Childreneatingpaintedplastercontainingleadmaysufferbraindamagefromleadpoisoning.Asimilarriskexistsfromeatingsoilnearroadsthatexistedbeforethephase-outoftetraethylleadorthatweresprayedwithoil(tosettledust)contaminatedbytoxicPCBsordioxin.Inadditiontopoisoning,amuchgreaterriskexistsofgastrointestinalobstructionortearinginthestomach.Anotherriskofeatingsoilistheingestionofanimalfecesandaccompanyingparasites.Picaca

ForYouNews&PerspectiveDrugs&DiseasesCME&EducationAcademyVideoDecisionPointSpecialty:MultispecialtyAllergy&ImmunologyAnesthesiologyBusinessofMedicineCardiologyCriticalCareDermatologyDiabetes&EndocrinologyEmergencyMedicineFamilyMedicineGastroenterologyGeneralSurgeryHematology-OncologyHIV/AIDSHospitalMedicineInfectiousDiseasesInternalMedicineMultispecialtyNephrologyNeurologyOb/Gyn&Women'sHealthOncologyOphthalmologyOrthopedicsPathology&LabMedicinePediatricsPlasticSurgeryPsychiatryPublicHealthPulmonaryMedicineRadiologyRheumatologyTransplantationUrologyMedicalStudentsNursesPharmacistsResidentsTodayonMedscapeEdition:ENGLISHDEUTSCHESPAÑOLFRANÇAISPORTUGUÊSLogInSignUpIt'sFree!Edition:ENGLISHDEUTSCHESPAÑOLFRANÇAISPORTUGUÊSRegisterLogInNoResultsNoResultsThursday,September16,2021ForYouNews&PerspectiveDrugs&DiseasesCME&EducationAcademyVideoDecisionPointclosePleaseconfirmthatyouwouldliketologoutofMedscape.Ifyoulogout,youwillberequiredtoenteryourusernameandpasswordthenexttimeyouvisit.LogoutCancelhttps://profreg.medscape.com/px/getpracticeprofile.do?method=getProfessionalProfile&urlCache=aHR0cDovL3d3dy5tZWRzY2FwZS5jb20vYW5zd2Vycy8yMDIzMzMtMTUzMTI0L3doYXQtaXMtdGhlLXJvbGUtb2YtcGljYS1pbi1pcm9uLWRlZmljaWVuY3ktYW5lbWlhprocessing....Drugs&Diseases>Hematology>IronDeficiencyAnemiaQ&AWhatistheroleofpicainirondeficiencyanemia?Updated:Sep30,2020Author:JamesLHarper,MD;ChiefEditor:EmmanuelCBesa,MD more...ReferencesShareEmailPrintFeedbackCloseFacebookTwitterLinkedInGoogle+AnswerPicaisnotacauseofirondeficiencyanemia;picaisasymptomofirondeficiencyanemia.Itisthelinkbetweenirondeficiencyanemiaandleadpoisoning,whichiswhyirondeficiencyanemiashouldalwaysbesoughtwhenachildisdiagnosedwithleadpoisoning.Hippocratesrecognizedclayeating;however,modernphysiciansoftendonotrecognizeitunlessthepatientandfamilyarespecificallyqueried.Bothsubstancesdecreasetheabsorptionofdietaryiron.Clayeatingoccursworldwideinallraces,thoughitismorecommoninAsiaMinor.StarcheatingisahabitinfemalesofAfricanheritage,anditoftenisstarted

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FacebookInstagramTwitterPinterestYouarehereHome/Learn/WhatareEatingDisorders?/InformationbyEatingDisorderPicaPicaisaneatingdisorderthatinvolveseatingitemsthatarenottypicallythoughtofasfoodandthatdonotcontainsignificantnutritionalvalue,suchashair,dirt,andpaintchips. EVALUATION&DIAGNOSISTherearenolaboratorytestsforpica.Instead,thediagnosisismadefromaclinicalhistoryofthepatient.Diagnosingpicashouldbeaccompaniedbytestsforanemia,potentialintestinalblockages,andtoxicsideeffectsofsubstancesconsumed(i.e.,leadinpaint,bacteriaorparasitesfromdirt).WARNINGSIGNS&SYMPTOMSOFPICAThepersistenteating,overaperiodofatleastonemonth,ofsubstancesthatarenotfoodanddonotprovidenutritionalvalue.Theingestionofthesubstance(s)isnotapartofculturallysupportedorsociallynormativepractice(e.g.,someculturespromoteeatingclayaspartofamedicinalpractice).Typicalsubstancesingestedtendtovarywithageandavailability.Theymayincludepaper,soap,cloth,hair,string,wool,soil,chalk,talcumpowder,paint,gum,metal,pebbles,charcoal,ash,clay,starch,orice. Theeatingofthesesubstancesmustbedevelopmentallyinappropriate.Inchildrenundertwoyearsofage,mouthingobjects—orputtingsmallobjectsintheirmouth—isanormalpartofdevelopment,allowingthechildtoexploretheirsenses.Mouthingmaysometimesresultiningestion.Inordertoexcludedevelopmentallynormalmouthing,childrenundertwoyearsofageshouldnotbediagnosedwithpica.Generally,thosewithpicaarenotaversetoingestingfood. RISKFACTORSPicaoftenoccurswithothermentalhealthdisordersassociatedwithimpairedfunctioning(e.g.,intellectualdisability,autismspectrumdisorder,schizophrenia). Iron-deficiencyanemiaandmalnutritionaretwoofthemostcommoncausesofpica,followedbypregnancy.Intheseindividuals,picaisasignthatthebodyistryingtocorrectasignificantnutrientdeficiency.Treatingthisdeficiencywithmedicationorvitaminsoftenresolvestheproblems.Amedicalprofessionalshouldassessifthebehaviorissufficientlyseveretowarrantindependentclinicalattention(e.g.,somepeoplemayeatnonfooditemsduringpregnancy,buttheirdoctormaydeterminethatthe

NCBISkiptomaincontentSkiptonavigationResourcesHowToAboutNCBIAccesskeysMyNCBISignintoNCBISignOutTryoutPMCLabsandtelluswhatyouthink.LearnMore.JournalListJMedCaseReportsv.4;2010PMC2850349JMedCaseReports.2010;4:86.Publishedonline2010Mar12.doi: 10.1186/1752-1947-4-86PMCID:PMC2850349PMID:20226051Picainirondeficiency:acaseseriesYasirKhan1,2andGlennTisman1YasirKhan1DepartmentofMedicalOncology,WhittierCancerResearchBuilding,BaileyStreet,Whittier,California,90601,USA2StGeorgesUniversitySchoolofMedicine,Grenada,WestIndiesFindarticlesbyYasirKhanGlennTisman1DepartmentofMedicalOncology,WhittierCancerResearchBuilding,BaileyStreet,Whittier,California,90601,USAFindarticlesbyGlennTismanAuthorinformationArticlenotesCopyrightandLicenseinformationDisclaimer1DepartmentofMedicalOncology,WhittierCancerResearchBuilding,BaileyStreet,Whittier,California,90601,USA2StGeorgesUniversitySchoolofMedicine,Grenada,WestIndiesCorrespondingauthor.YasirKhan:ude.ugs@1ayahk;GlennTisman:moc.liamg@dmnnelgReceived2009Oct22;Accepted2010Mar12.Copyright©2010KhanandTisman;licenseeBioMedCentralLtd.ThisisanOpenAccessarticledistributedunderthetermsoftheCreativeCommonsAttributionLicense(http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0),whichpermitsunrestricteduse,distribution,andreproductioninanymedium,providedtheoriginalworkisproperlycited.ThisarticlehasbeencitedbyotherarticlesinPMC.IntroductionPicaisanunusualconditionwherepatientsdevelopcravingsfornon-nutritivesubstancesthatcancausesignificanthealthrisks.Wereportthreepatientswithpica,twoofthemshowingevolutionarychangesassociatedwithpicaandthethirddemonstratingapeculiarnatureofpica,whichhasyettobereported.CasepresentationWedescribethreepatientswhopresentedwithsymptomsofpica.Thefirstpatientisa36-year-oldCaucasianwomanwhohaddysfunctionaluterinebleedingassociatedwithdailyingestionoftwosuper-sizedcupsoficeasicedtea.Thesecondpatientisa62-year-oldCaucasianmanwhopresentedwithbleedingfromcolonicpolypsassociatedwithdrinkingpartiallyfrozenbottledwater.Lastly,thethirdpatient,a37-yea

Ourwebsiteusescookiestoenhanceyourexperience.Bycontinuingtouseoursite,orclicking"Continue,"youareagreeingtoourCookiePolicy | Continue[SkiptoNavigation]TwitterFacebookEmailMoreThisIssueDownloadPDFFullTextShareTwitterFacebookEmailLinkedInCiteThisPermissionsArticleMay 1971FoodPicaandIronDeficiencyWilliamH.Crosby,MDAuthorAffiliationsBostonArchInternMed.1971;127(5):960-961.doi:10.1001/archinte.1971.00310170168027visualabstracticonVisualAbstracteditorialcommenticonEditorialCommentrelatedarticlesiconRelatedArticlesauthorinterviewiconInterviewsmultimediaiconMultimediaFullTextAbstractSomecontemporaryformsofpicahavebeenwellpublicized:clayeatinginTurkey,Iran,andthesouthernUnitedStates,starcheatinginournortheasternmegopolis,andiceeating(pagophagia)onUSAirForcebases.1-3Ofespecialpoignancyaretheillnessanddeathofghettochildrenwhoeatpeeling,lead-basedpaint.Matches-picausedtocausephosphoruspoisoninginchildren.Nowthedriedpaint-picacausesleadpoisoning.Picausuallyoccurswithirondeficiency.Muchdiscussionofthisassociationhasbeenofthechicken-or-the-eggvariety,whichcomesfirst?Doesirondeficiencycausepicaordoespicaleadtoirondeficiency?Whenawomaneatslittlebesideslaundrystarchsheiscertainlyinnegativeironbalance,andclayevidentlycontainssubstanceswhichchelateionizediron,preventingitsabsorption.Butthesearenotprimaryreasonsfortheirondeficiency-picasyndrome.Coltmanfoundinblindexperimentsthatiron-deficienticeeaterslosttheappetiteforicewithinFullTextDownloadPDFFullTextCiteThisCitationCrosbyWH.FoodPicaandIronDeficiency.ArchInternMed.1971;127(5):960–961.doi:10.1001/archinte.1971.00310170168027Downloadcitationfile:Ris(Zotero)EndNoteBibTexMedlarsProCiteRefWorksReferenceManagerMendeley©2021PermissionsCoronavirusResourceCenterOthersAlsoLikedSelectYourInterestsCustomizeyourJAMANetworkexperiencebyselectingoneormoretopicsfromthelistbelow.AcidBase,Electrolytes,FluidsAddictionMedicineAllergyandClinicalImmunologyAnesthesiologyAnticoagulationArtandImagesinPsychiatryBleedingandTransfusionCardiologyCaringfortheCriti