What is pica?
Pica is the persistent (at least a month) eating of non-nutritive substances (plaster, mud, charcoal, ashes, paint, wool), in a child beyond the age of 3 years. It usually gets better on its own in childhood, but rarely persists into adulthood.
What are the risks associated with pica?
Firstly, pica is more likely to occur in children with either developmental, neurological or psychiatric issues, though there are plenty of completely normal children who have pica.
Children who indulge in persistent and excessive pica are at risk of:
- Iron deficiency anemia
- Lead poisoning
- Intestinal obstruction where the intestines get blocked due to a mass of the ingested materials.
- Damage to teeth: while trying to bite into something hard
- Parasitic or Worm infestations: especially after eating mud
Why does my child eat mud and chalk?
There are several theories proposed – ranging from nutritional deficiencies (for iron, calcium, or others like zinc) to family issues to psychological disturbances.
What can be done for pica?
You should get your child thoroughly evaluated for any nutritional deficiency, neurological and psychological issues. If any of the complications mentioned above occur, then of course, they need appropriate treatment.
Most of the time management involves:
- Treat deficiencies.
- If paint, check lead levels, treat any lead poisoning.
- If hair, may even require surgery.
- Nutritional education.
- Psychological evaluation.
- Behavioral modification therapy
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