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Pica eating disorder - Pica eating disorder Symptom, Cause, Treatment
Pica is an appetite for non-foods (e.g., coal , soil , chalk , paper etc.) or an abnormal appetite for some things that may be considered foods , such as food ingredients (e.g., flour , raw potato , starch ).In some societies, pica is a culturally sanctioned practice and is not considered to be pathologic. In children aged 18 months to 2 years, the ingestion and mouthing of nonnutritive substances is common and is not considered to be pathologic. Because of the inherent danger in eating non-food items, it is extremely important that an individual suffering with Pica be evaluated by a doctor, given the correct diagnosis, and treated promptly . If pica is associated with mental retardation or pervasive developmental disorder, it must be sufficiently severe to warrant independent clinical attention - There is a similar risk from eating dirt near roads that existed prior to the phaseout of tetra-ethyl lead in gasoline or prior to the cessation of the use of contaminated oil (either used, or containing toxic PCBs ) to settle dust. Although the cravings associated with pica may be related to vitamin or mineral deficiencies, ingesting non-foods can cause serious medical complications such as intestinal obstruction, intestinal perforation, infections, or lead poisoning. Research among non-institutionalized populations takes the form of individual case studies, making prevalence rates difficult to estimate. Another risk of dirt eating is the possible ingestion of animal feces and the accompanying parasites .
Symptoms of Pica eating disorder
Some common symptoms of Pica eating disorder :
- clay
- laundry detergent
- ice
- hair
- Craving and eating non-food substances.
- The preoccupation causes clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning.
Causes of Pica eating disorder
The common causes of Pica eating disorder :
- Cultural factors do play a role in some cases of pica. Pica is accepted in some cultures as a way of increasing spirituality or treating certain physical illnesses, like morning sickness .
- Mental illness or psychological trauma can trigger pica in some people. Pica is often a hallmark of extreme stress, fear, or abuse.
- While the exact cause for pica is still uncertain, factors such as emotional deprivation, poverty, poor nutrition, anemia, neglect, lack of parental supervision, or developmental delay increase the risk for a person developing this eating disorder.
- Pica behavior also may be learned via modeling and reinforcement.
- In some patients with malnutrition who eat clay, iron deficiencies have been diagnosed, but the direction of this causal association is unclear.
Treatment of Pica eating disorder
- Development of the treatment plan must take into account the symptoms of pica and contributory factors, as well as the management of possible complications of the disorder.
- Currently, behavioral strategies have been most effective in treating pica.
- No medical treatment is specific in the treatment of patients with pica.
- Therapy can be especially helpful in addressing the emotional consequences of this eating disorder, in preventing pica from leading to other eating disorders, and in working through any psychological causes that contributed to the onset of the condition.
- medications to control cravings, stress, or depression
- psychological counseling
- Medications may be helpful in reducing the abnormal eating behavior, if pica occurs in the course of a developmental disorder, such as mental retardation, or pervasive developmental disorder.
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