Nutrient deficiencies may sometimes be related to pica.Įating certain nonfood items can sometimes lead to other serious conditions e.g. This can help your doctor learn if you have an underlying nutrient deficiency, such as anemia. Your doctor may test your blood to see if you have low levels of zinc or iron. If you eat nonfood items please be honest to your doctor about same as this will help in accurate diagnosis. The doctor usually diagnoses conditions based on history and your food habits. When it comes to Pica it is difficult to get diagnosed as there is no specific test for it. Dieting and malnutrition can both lead to pica and in these cases eating nonfood items may help you feel full. Besides these mental and nutrient deficiency conditions, some may even enjoy and crave the textures or flavors of certain nonfood items and which makes them eat same. Your unusual cravings may be a sign that your body is trying to replenish low nutrient levels.Īnother reason is that people with certain mental health conditions such as schizophrenia and obsessive-compulsive disorder may develop pica as a coping mechanism. The scant research that has been done on the root causes of pica suggests that the majority of those afflicted tend to suffer some biochemical deficiency and more often iron, zinc or other nutrient deficiency, For example, anemia, or iron deficiency, may be the underlying cause of pica in pregnant women. It is advisable to see a doctor right away if someone eats or have a craving for non-food items. Besides children, this syndrome is also found in pregnant women. A person suffering from this syndrome usually have a craving of eating nonfood items like coal, clay, sand, ice, flakes of dried paint or an abnormal appetite for some things that may be considered foods, such as food ingredients (e.g., flour, raw potato, starch, ice cubes). This is most common in children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, such as autism. This disorder affects 10% to 30% of young children, ages 1 to 2. Pica is a state of medical disorder under which people compulsively eat those food items which have no nutritional value. And if pica knocks on your door, questions are surely going to pop in your head. But in the frailty community, pica may come looking for you. Despite living in the world of technology and robotics most of us are not aware of the word “Pica” or should I say we can’t afford to take few seconds from our schedule to know more about the world of health.
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