PICA...HE JUST LOVES TO EAT NON-NUTRITIVE THINGS

Do you know someone who loves eating non-nutritive substances?.. maybe more specifically; chalk and clay. Some even give you reasons as to why they eat them and yet, there you are still trying to figure out ’what’s really his problem’… Hey, I am not saying the person has any problem because sometimes it could be caused by pregnancy. What causes a person to just start eating chalk? .that was also the first question I asked myself sometimes past before encountering the word.. PICA!!

 Many young kids put nonfood items in their mouths at one time or another. They're naturally curious about their environment and might, for instance, eat some dirt out of the sandbox.  Kids with pica, however, go beyond this innocent exploration of their surroundings. Between 10% and 30% of kids ages of 1 to 6 years have the eating disorder pica, which is characterized by persistent and compulsive cravings (lasting 1 month or longer) to eat nonfood items.

Pica is more commonly seen in women and children, where it affects people of all ages in these subgroups. Particularly it is seen in pregnant women, small children, and those with developmental disabilities such as autism. For children with autism, suffering from pica disorder has seemed to be even more dangerous.

Ok, now we know atleast that there are chances that a person who eats these things probably started eating them as a child and grew up with it..so how then do we know someone who has Pica? Simple;

• repetitive consumption of nonfood items, despite efforts to restrict it, for a period of at least 1 month or longer
• the behavior is considered inappropriate for your child's age or developmental stage (older than 18 to 24 months)
• the behavior is not part of a cultural, ethnic, or religious practice

But why in the first place did they start eating those things?..i belie ve it’s just logical to ask the question. Why?

• nutritional deficiencies, such as iron or zinc, that may trigger specific cravings (however, the nonfood items craved usually don't supply the minerals lacking in the person's body)
• dieting — people who diet may attempt to ease hunger by eating nonfood substances to get a feeling of fullness
• malnutrition, especially in underdeveloped countries, where people with pica most commonly eat soil or clay
• cultural factors — in families, religions, or groups in which eating nonfood substances is a learned practice
• parental neglect, lack of supervision, or food deprivation — often seen in children living in poverty
• developmental problems, such as mental retardation, autism, other developmental disabilities, or brain abnormalities
• mental health conditions, such as obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and schizophrenia
• pregnancy, but it's been suggested that pica during pregnancy occurs more frequently in women who exhibited similar practices during their childhood or before pregnancy or who have a history of pica in their family

Treatment

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 positive reinforcement for eating normal foods.

Medications may help reduce the abnormal eating behavior if pica is part of a developmental disorder such as mental retardation.

Outlook (Prognosis)

Treatment success varies. In many cases, the disorder lasts several months, then disappears on its own. In some cases, it may continue into the teen years or adulthood, especially when it occurs with developmental disorders.

Possible Complications

• Bezoar (a mass of undigestible material trapped inside the body, usually in the stomach)
• Infection
• Intestinal obstruction
• Lead poisoning
• Malnutrition

When to Contact a Medical Professional

Call your health care provider if you notice that a child (or adult) is eating non-food materials.

BY: OPEOLUWA ADETOLA