Pica Eating Disorder
Is very normal that children put nonfood- at one time on another- in their mouths, because they are discovering about their environment, different kinds of tastes; but when you see your children eat nonfood around one month or longer, may be your child have a disease called Pica.
Pica comes from Latin word magpie (bird that has indiscriminate appetite).
Pica is developed in people with: developmental disabilities, (including autism), mental retardation, and in children between the ages two and three.
Children with pica are characterized by persistent and compulsive cravings to eat nonfood items, such as:
- Dirt
- Clay
- Paint chips
- Plaster
- Chalk
- Cornstarch
- Laundry starch
- Baking soda
- Coffee grounds
- Cigarette ashes
- Burnt match heads
- Cigarette butts
- Feces
- Ice
- Glue
- Hair
- Bottoms
- Paper
- Sand
- Toothpaste
- Soap
It is recommended considerer Pica like a serious eating disorder, sometimes can result in serious health problems such as lead poisoning and iron-deficiency anemia.
Causes of Pica eating disorder:
Nobody knows what causes pica eating disorder, but sometimes doctors said that Pica eating disorder could be prompted by different factors, such as:
A) Nutritional deficiencies
Dieting: people sometimes have hungry, for this reason, people eat nonfood
B) Mal nutrition: is very common see Pica in underdeveloped countries, because they eat soil or clay (for hungry).
C) Cultural factors: people eat nonfood because they practice some religions or t6hey belong to some special group.
Parental neglect: is usual see in people who live in poverty.
D) Developmental problems
Mental health conditions: Like obsessive-compulsive disorder and schizophrenia.
Pregnancy: Pica can affect more often women who practice in their childhood, before pregnancy or some relatives ill for this disease.
Treatment of pica eating disorder:
It is always recommended that you go to the doctor, because they will teach you some forms to avoid pica, thus your child will known what kind of food must eat. Moreover, your doctor will work with you to prevent your child obtaining the nonfood.
In conclusion, pica is a temporary disease that can affect children between two or 3 years old, pregnancy and people with mental health troubles. Therefore, if you child is at risk of pica. It is recommended going to the doctor urgently, because can be at risk for serious health problems, for instance: lead poisoning, bowel problems, intestinal obstruction or perforation, dental injury, parasitic infections.
Do not forget that doctors must treat every case individually to try to understand what may be causing the condition.
