Pica Disorder

What is pica disorder?

Pica Disorder is an eating disorder that is characterized by the ingestion/consumption of non-food substances which contain no nutritional value. Pica, a misunderstood phenomenon, is better defined as a compulsive craving for eating, chewing or licking non-food items or those that contain no nutrition such as coffee grounds. It is important to note that the individual usually has relatively intense cravings for these items. The phrase ‘pica’ is derived from the Latin word to mean magpie, a bird known for its large and indiscriminate appetite.

Items commonly consumed are as follows;

clay or soilPaint chipsLeavesStringHairSandPebblesAnimal droppingsChalkBurned match heads or cigarette buttsRustLibrary pasteCornstarch, laundry starch, or baking sodaLight bulbsPencil erasersFaeces

Adolescents and adults are likely to consume clay or soil. Older children might ingest sand, pebbles, or leaves and younger children/infants are likely to choose plaster, string, or paint. It is common for babies to put all kinds of things in their mouths, but a diagnosis of pica is valid only when eating a substance is not appropriate for the person's age. Children are naturally curious about their environment and thus might, for instance, eat some dirt out of a sandbox.

Children are mostly affected by Pica disorder and usually grow out of it. Children with pica disorder develop beyond this innocent exploration of surroundings. 25 to 30% of kids have the eating disorder pica, and lasting for at least 1 month. 20% of children seen in mental institutes suffer from Pica.

Signs of pica

Repetitive consumption of non food items, for a period of at least a month or longer.the behaviour is considered inappropriate for your child's age or developmental stage (older than 18 to 24 months)the behaviour is not part of a cultural, ethnic, or religious practice

Causes of Pica disorder

The specific causes of pica are unknown however the following conditions and occurrences indicate as a trigger of pica

nutritional deficiencies: for example iron or zinc may trigger specific cravings (Although, it is important to note that the non food items craved do not usually supply the minerals lacking in the person's body)Dieting: people who diet often attempt to appease hunger by eating non food substances such as toilet tissue, anything to fill the stomach.Malnutrition: Most common in those underdeveloped countries, where people with pica tend to ingest soil or clay.cultural factors: in some families and/or religions it is a learned practice to consume non foods. parental neglect: Lack of supervision or food deprivation can trigger pica disorder in children (often seen in children living in poverty).developmental problems: such as mental retardation, autism, brain abnormalities ect.mental health conditions: such as obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and schizophrenia.Pregnancy: Pica is also quite common among pregnant women; symptoms however, will usually diminish and eventually stop following the birth of the child. It's been suggested that pica during pregnancy occurs more frequently in women who have exhibited similar behaviours during their childhood, prior to pregnancy or those who have a history of pica in their family.

Symptoms are not always removed following correction of nutritional deficiency, thus a deficiency may be a consequence of pica rather than the cause. Some people with pica don't have any documented nutritional deficiency.

Some people claim to enjoy the taste and texture of dirt or clay, and consider it a daily habit much like smoking is a daily routine for others. As with most eating disorder, there are psychological theories explain pica as a response to stress in terms of behaviour, or in fact an indication that the individual has an oral fixation. This means that he/she is comforted by having things in their mouth.

Another form of pica is known as geophagia characterize by eating earth substances such as clay or dirt, this can cause iron deficiency. Another theory to explain pica is that in some cultures, eating clay or dirt is believed to relieve nausea (and thus, morning sickness), control diarrhoea, increase salivation and remove toxins.