Pica

DisclaimerThis page is not here to be used as a self-diagnosis, self-identification, or promotion - it's simply here to be informational. Whether or not one self-diagnoses, self-identifies, and/or seeks a professional diagnosis is up to them.

**Pica** is an eating disorder that involves eating items that are not typically thought of as food and do not contain significant nutritional value. An individual with pica might eat relatively harmless items, such as ice, or they might eat potentially dangerous items, like flakes of dried paint or pieces of metal. In the latter case, the disorder can lead to serious consequences, such as lead poisoning.

Pronounced "PIKE-ah", pica gets its name from a bird species, the Eurasian Magpie (formal Latin name Pica Pica). The bird as a reputation for eating unusual objects.

## Signs & Symptoms

* The persistent eating, over a period of at least one month, of substances that are not food and do not provide nutritional value.
* The ingestion of the substance(s) is not part of culturally supported or socially normative practices.
* Typical substances ingested tend to vary with age and availability.
* The eating of these substances must be developmentally inappropriate. In order to exclude developmentally normal mouthing, children under the age of two should not be diagnosed with pica.
* Generally, those with pica are not averse to ingesting food.

Pica symptoms are related to the nonfood item the individual has eaten. They include:

* Upset stomach.
* Stomach pain.
* Blood in the stool.
* Bowel problems.

These symptoms are the result of toxic, poisonous, and bacterial content of the nonfood items. Repeatedly eating nonfood items over a period of time can cause:

* Lead poisoning.
* An intestinal blockage or tear.
* Injuries or death.
* Infections.

If one has pica, they may regularly eat things such as:

* Ice.
* Soap.
* Buttons.
* Clay.
* Hair.
* Dirt.
* Sand.
* The unused remainder of a cigarette.
* Cigarette ashes.
* Paint.
* Glue.
* Chalk.
* Feces.

### Diagnosis

There are no laboratory tests for pica. Instead, the diagnosis is made from a clinical history of the patient. Diagnosing pica should be accompanied by tests for anemia, potential intestinal blockages, and toxic side effects of substances consumed.

## Causes

There is no single cause of pica. In some cases, a deficiency in iron, zinc, or another nutrient may be associated with pica and the unusual cravings may be a sign that the body is trying to replenish low nutrient levels.

Individuals with certain mental health conditions, such as schizophrenia or OCD, may develop pica as a coping mechanism.

Some individuals may enjoy and crave the textures or flavors of certain nonfood items. In some cultures, eating clay is an accepted behavior. This form of pica is called geophagia.

Dieting and malnourishment can both lead to pica. In these cases, eating nonfood items may help one feel full.

It may be more likely to occur alongside:

* Pregnancy.
* Iron deficiency anemia.
* Autism.
* Intellectual disabilities and developmental disorders.
* Depression.
* Obsessive-compulsive disorders.
* Schizophrenia.

## References

1. https://www.healthline.com/health/pica
2. https://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/learn/by-eating-disorder/other/pica
3. https://www.beateatingdisorders.org.uk/get-information-and-support/about-eating-disorders/types/other-eating-feeding-problems/pica/
4. https://familydoctor.org/condition/pica/
5. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/22944-pica