Pica: symptoms, causes, and various ways to treat it

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Definition of pica

What is pica?

Pica is a type of eating disorder characterized by eating something that is not natural, or not food, does not contain nutritional value, and can even cause health problems.

This condition is not like the behavior of children who put things that are sometimes not food into the mouth. This is because the child's behavior is carried out because of his high curiosity about objects around him.

While this eating disorder usually affects people with mental illness. Although in most cases it can also attack people without psychiatric problems.

How common is this condition?

Pica is a fairly common eating disorder. Generally, this condition affects children. However, it can also occur in adults.

It is difficult to estimate how many people suffer from this eating disorder, because usually the sufferer does not report it. Additionally, children with this condition may hide these behaviors from their parents and caregivers.

Pica signs & symptoms

The main symptom of pica is eating something that is unnatural, strange, and even that is not allowed to be eaten. Some examples of cases are:

Eat ice cubes

Eating ice cubes is also known as pasophagia. Reporting from the Mayo Clinic, cravings and chewing ice cubes are often associated with iron deficiency anemia.

Studies show that this behavior is done to increase alertness in people with anemia.

Eat hair

Eating hair or also known as trichophagia. The cause is not known for sure, but it usually affects people with trichotillomania, a condition in which a person compulsively pulls on the hair on their body.

Eat other things

Apart from the items mentioned above, some people with this eating disorder can also eat cigarette ends, dirt, crayons, paper, wall pieces, coins, and even chalk.

Apart from eating something unnatural, other symptoms that may occur in people with pica eating disorder are:

• Broken or damaged teeth.
• Often experience stomach pain, nausea, and vomiting.
• Bloody stools.
• There is a blockage in the intestine.
• Experiencing nutritional deficiencies, usually after checking for low iron, hematocrit, or hemoglobin levels. .

Causes and risk factors for pica

There are several causes of pica eating disorders, including:

• Pregnant women often experience strange food cravings and are believed to occur due to hormonal changes in the body.
• Malnutrition, such as iron deficiency anemia.
• Have a mental illness, such as schizophrenia or obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD).
• Children with developmental disorders, such as autism.

Apart from health problems, risk factors that can increase the risk of this eating disorder are:

• Children living in slum areas with poor hygiene.
• People who live in an environment with cultural norms that consider certain objects to be edible, with the aim of having healing or sacred properties.

Complications of pica

Pica eating disorders can cause complications if left untreated, including:

• Choking and poisoning.
• Broken and damaged teeth that make it difficult to eat.
• Experiencing digestive problems, sore throat, and even forming an abscess.
• Experiencing brain damage from eating harmful substances.

Pica diagnosis & treatment

The information provided is not a substitute for medical advice. ALWAYS consult your doctor.

There are no specific laboratory tests to diagnose this eating disorder. However, the doctor will look at the patient's medical history. Follow-up medical tests may be done to check for anemia, intestinal blockage, or the presence of a toxic foreign substance in the body.

How to treat pica?

Eating something not to eat can cause problems such as stomach aches and broken teeth. To treat this eating disorder, it usually starts with tackling the problem first.

Some people experience lead poisoning, infections, or other severe symptoms, usually needing antibiotics or even surgery.

In order to treat the pica eating disorder itself, the doctor must first identify why the person is engaging in the behavior. Then, then the doctor will prescribe drugs for underlying health problems, such as antidepressants.

It could also ask the patient to take therapy with the aim of correcting wrong eating behavior.

If this eating disorder occurs in pregnant women, always consult a doctor. If something that is eaten can endanger health, the mother is strongly advised to avoid it.

Home treatment of pica

Apart from doctor's medication, home care can also help patients with eating disorders reduce their symptoms, such as:

• Always apply the right behavior and diet, especially in choosing food. Choose healthy, nutritious meals to help meet your daily nutritional needs.
• Learn to reduce stress, for example by exercising, meditating, or doing activities you like.

Pica prevention

There is no way to completely prevent the pica eating disorder. However, you can lower the risk in several ways, including:

• Get treatment for health problems you have, for example following treatment for schizophrenia, anemia, and other diseases.
• Make sure children are not in a dirty environment and always supervise them so that they do not put non-food items in their mouths.