This image depicts a child suffering from PICA’s eating sand.
Pica’s can be termed as persistent eating of substances which are not edible, it includes eating soil, sand, glass, paper, metal etc. For such eating habits to be categorized under Pica the user must be persistent in eating such thing for a period over 1 month.
Eating such substances can have serious medical issues which can lead to intoxication, and impairment in physical and mental development.
Pica’s disorder may occur due to iron deficiency or chemical imbalance, and poor environmental factors like disorganized family structure, parental neglect can also trigger Pica’s in children.
FACTS
More than 70 % of times, PICA’s occur due to parental negligence or poor environment at home.
SYMPTOMS
Eating of the following:-
- Animal fetes
- Ice
- Paint
- Grass
- Dirt
- Clay
- Raw and unprocessed food
CASE STUDIES
M, 4 years old ate the plaster coming out of the walls and got sick soon after. Her parents called a doctor, who examined her and referred her to the clinic. A look at the family background reveals that both of M’s parents are working and remain out for the most part of the day, in the meanwhile her maid takes care of her. From the past 3 months M’s eating habits have changed, she doesn’t chew food properly and keeps it inside for long periods of time. Her mother has caught M eating mud and newspaper a few times and scolded her severely. Although M was diagnosed with Pica’s her parents were asked to get involved in joint counselling as parental neglect was a big reason for her developing this eating habit .
