Pica is eating of stuffs that have no nutritional value such as dirt, chalk, hair, button, etc. Babies and toddlers put nonfood item in their mounts at one time or another because they are curious about their environment and might eat small things. However, children with pica go beyond this exploration of their surroundings.
Person with developmental disabilities like autism and intellectual disabilities may have Pica. A person with pica crave and eat nonfood items like dirt, clay, paint chips, chalk, plaster, baking soda, cigarette ashes, coffee grounds, hair, feces, glue, ice, buttons, sands, paper, toothpaste, soaps, etc.
If you observed that your child has persistent ingestion of nonnutritive substance for at least one month at an age for which this behavior is developmentally inappropriate, an evaluation is necessary.
These evaluation includes an assessment for possible anemia, intestinal blockages, or potential toxicity from ingested substances. Review of your child’s eating habits may also be conducted. A doctor also evaluate the presence of other disorders such as mental retardation, developmental disabilities or obsessive-compulsive behavior as the cause of the odd eating behavior.
Treatment of Pica behavior involves behaviors, environment and family education. Some medications or drugs may help reduce the abnormal eating behavior if pica is part of a development disorder. Mild aversion therapy may help a child with pica behavior. A child may get positive reinforcement for eating normal foods.
Some complication associated with pica behaviors includes nutritional deficiencies, lead poisoning, constipation or blockages in the digestive tract such as intestines and bowels, infection from bacteria and parasites.