Pica is a pattern of eating non-food materials, such as dirt or paper.
Geophagy; Lead poisoning - pica
Pica is seen more in young children than adults. Up to one third of children ages 1 to 6 years have these eating behaviors. It is unclear how many children with pica intentionally consume dirt (geophagy).
Pica can also occur during pregnancy. In some cases, a lack of certain nutrients, such as iron and zinc, may trigger the unusual cravings. Pica may also occur in adults who crave a certain texture in their mouth.
Children and adults with pica may eat:
This pattern of eating must last for at least 1 month to fit the diagnosis of pica.
Depending on what is being eaten and how much, symptoms of other problems may be present, such as:
Treatment should first address any missing nutrients or other medical problems, such as lead poisoning.
Treating pica involves behaviors, the environment, and family education. One form of treatment associates the pica behavior with negative consequences or punishment (mild aversion therapy). Then the person gets rewarded for eating normal foods.
Medicines may help reduce the abnormal eating behavior if pica is part of a developmental disorder such as intellectual disability.
Cameron Mcdougall is a Neurosurgery doctor in Baltimore, Maryland. Dr. Mcdougall has been practicing medicine for over 37 years and is rated as a Distinguished doctor by MediFind in the treatment of Pica. He is also highly rated in 16 other conditions, according to our data. His top areas of expertise are Brain Aneurysm, Subarachnoid Hemorrhage, Arteriovenous Malformation, Extracranial-Intracranial Bypass Surgery, and Stent Placement. Dr. Mcdougall is currently accepting new patients.
Min Park is a Neurosurgery doctor in Charlottesville, Virginia. Dr. Park has been practicing medicine for over 21 years and is rated as an Advanced doctor by MediFind in the treatment of Pica. He is also highly rated in 17 other conditions, according to our data. His top areas of expertise are Stroke, Cerebral Arteriovenous Malformation, Brain Aneurysm, Thrombectomy, and Stent Placement. Dr. Park is currently accepting new patients.
David Newman-Toker is a Neurologist in Baltimore, Maryland. Dr. Newman-Toker has been practicing medicine for over 28 years and is rated as an Advanced doctor by MediFind in the treatment of Pica. He is also highly rated in 7 other conditions, according to our data. His top areas of expertise are Vertigo, Stroke, Brown Syndrome, and Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo.
Treatment success varies. In many cases, the disorder lasts several months and then disappears on its own. In some cases, it may continue into the teen years or adulthood, especially when it occurs with developmental disorders.
Complications include:
Contact your provider if you notice that a child (or adult) is eating nonfood materials.
There is no specific prevention. Getting adequate nutrition may help.
Published Date: April 30, 2022
Published By: Fred K. Berger, MD, addiction and forensic psychiatrist, Scripps Memorial Hospital, La Jolla, CA. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.
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Katzman DK, Norris ML. Feeding and eating disorders. In: Feldman M, Friedman LS, Brandt LJ, eds. Sleisenger and Fordtran's Gastrointestinal and Liver Disease: Pathophysiology/Diagnosis/Management. 11th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2021:chap 9.
Kliegman RM, St. Geme JW, Blum NJ, Shah SS, Tasker RC, Wilson KM. Rumination and pica. In: Kliegman RM, St. Geme JW, Blum NJ, Shah SS, Tasker RC, Wilson KM, eds. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 21st ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 36.