An Overview of Pica and its Management
Pica is an eating disorder where affected people regularly consume non-food, non-nutrient items. People diagnosed with pica are usually children, individuals with psychological disorders, and sometimes, pregnant women. Individuals with pica consume non-food items such as mud, dirt, hair, fingernails, skin sand, stones, rubber, pencil erasers, and glass. Among various eating disorders, pica is most common in population with intellectual disabilities. The exact pathogenesis of pica is not yet known. However, it is linked with deficiency of various minerals, mainly iron, magnesium, and zinc. Pica can be seen during pregnancy, which is principally related to iron deficiency. Similarly, ingestion of non-food items by children and teenagers usually indicate the need of certain mineral in the body. Initially, pica may be seen as harmless habit, however, the ingestion of certain substances leads to increased levels of toxins in the body, and subsequent complications. For instance, pica lead poisoning may occur as a result of excessive ingestion of lead-based paints by toddlers. This chronic lead poisoning may lead to impaired cognition, seizure disorders, and peripheral neuropathies. Soil or clay ingestion is associated with various recurrent infections due to ingestion of causative agents present in such substances. There is no particular treatment for pica. However, based on few case reports, it can be approached pharmacologically and/or psychologically. Pharmacological management is based on hypothesis that reduced dopaminergic activity found in individuals with pica behavior can be countered by dopaminergic therapy, whereas psychological approach attempts at counselling the individuals, helping in discrimination between edible versus non-edible items, and providing sensory and physical reinforcement for substances that individuals tend to eat. Source PICA AN EATING DISORDER: AN OVERVIEW https://pharmacophorejournal.com/storage/models/article/MHYRf6rCckG1eJc8t8NO51jdau7Nv8BJvEZc9YO82QNgjTRd0mgSo0GgEY7Y/pica-an-eating-disorder-an-overview.pdf Image via https://www.healthyplace.com/eating-disorders/other-eating-disorders/eating-disorders-pica
