The term was drawn directly from the medieval Latin word for magpie, a bird subject to much folklore regarding its opportunistic feeding behaviors. The ingested or craved substance may be biological, natural or manmade. It can be a disorder in itself or a sign of other cultural or medical phenomena. Co-existing developmental disabilities can make treatment difficult.Pica is the eating or craving of things that are not food.Some infections can damage the kidneys or liver. Bacteria or parasites from dirt or other objects can cause serious infections.Also, hard or sharp objects (such as paperclips or metal scraps) can cause tears in the lining of the esophagus or intestines.

Eating objects that cannot be digested, such as stones, can cause constipation or blockages in the digestive tract, including the intestines and bowels.

Eating non-food objects can interfere with eating healthy food, which can lead to nutritional deficiencies.

This is the most concerning and potentially lethal side effect of pica

Certain items, such as paint chips, may contain lead or other toxic substances and eating them can lead to poisoning, increasing the child's risk of complications including learning disabilities and brain damage.

There are many potential complications of pica, such as: What Complications Are Associated With Pica? The Handbook for Clinical Child Psychology currently supports general behavioral strategies as the most effective treatment approach for pica, with training in which foods are edible and which foods cannot be eaten through the use of positive reinforcement. Additionally, close collaboration with a mental health team skilled in treating pica is ideal for optimal treatment of these complex cases. Given the risk of medical complications (such as lead poisoning) associated with pica, close medical monitoring is necessary throughout treatment of the eating behavior. This pattern of behavior must last at least one month for a diagnosis of pica to be made. A review of the person's eating habits may be conducted.īefore making a diagnosis of pica, the doctor will evaluate the presence of other disorders - such as intellectual disabilities, developmental disabilities, or obsessive-compulsive disorder - as the cause of the odd eating behavior. The doctor also may test for possible infections caused by eating items contaminated with bacteria or other organisms. The doctor may use certain tests - such as X-rays and blood tests - to check for anemia and look for toxins and other substances in the blood, and to check for blockages in the intestinal tract.

If symptoms are present, the doctor will begin an evaluation by performing a complete medical history and physical exam. If pica is suspected, a medical evaluation is important to assess for possible anemia, intestinal blockages, or potential toxicity from ingested substances. Research among non-institutionalized populations takes the form of individual case studies, making prevalence rates difficult to estimate. The Handbook of Clinical Child Psychologycurrently estimates that prevalence rates of pica range from 4%-26% among institutionalized populations. Pica is the persistent eating of substances such as dirt or paint that have no nutritional value.

Abused dog pica