Children, especially infants and toddlers, have a natural tendency to explore their surroundings. This includes mouthing any kind of objects that they may be curious about. And that’s exactly why choking hazard warning signs exist to inform adults of things that they should keep children away from, such as small, swallowable, or inedible parts that can lead to asphyxiation or even poisoning. But kids simply don’t know any better at that age. Whether it’s chalk, rubber, or even sand, anything that looks like food to them will be considered food.
Surprisingly, however, the inclination to eat things that aren’t made to be food is a legitimate neurological disorder that can affect those of us beyond the ages of children. Here is what you should know about Pica.
What Is Pica Syndrome
Pica Syndrome (or simply pica)is a compulsive eating disorder where one has an appetite towards consuming non-food items. Pica tends to be more prevalent in people with already pre-existing developmental disabilities and is more likely to affect women, especially those who are pregnant. Previous studies highlighted that as many as 27 to almost 68% of pregnant women throughout the United States reportedly experienced pica in 2021.
Among all items on such unconventional diet lists, chalk, dirt, plaster, pencil nibs, and even ice seem to be the most common things consumed. Other, less common but notable non-edible things eaten by those with pica include charcoal, eggshells, soap, and even pet food. For the most part, those who are diagnosed seem to only have cravings for a single non-edible item.
Symptoms & Causes
The sole symptom displayed by someone who suffers from Pica Syndrome is compulsively consuming things that aren’t food and have no nutritional benefit. However, long-term prevalence of pica syndrome in an individual can risk the development of other serious complications. This includes Anemia (Where the body is low in iron), Constipation, Irregular Heart Rhythms (arrhythmias), and even lead poisoning, which also shows up with its own set of symptoms, further complicating matters.
There is yet to be a single agreed-upon cause or explanation of the pica syndrome. However, identified risk factors that may potentially contribute include the following.
Nutritional Deficiencies
Individuals who suffer from pica often have pre-existing minerals or other deficiencies in their diet. Low levels of vital minerals for our bodies, such as calcium or zinc, are considered a contributing factor to people who show signs of pica. Even for children with or without autism, pica could be triggered by a craving for nutrients that our bodies may be lacking.
Developmental Conditions
Pica syndrome is relatively common in adults and children with autism and developmental disabilities. This leads experts to believe that neurological conditions may also be contributing factors to some who show signs of pica, as it may be triggered by sensory stimulation. Hence, some evidence supports including pica in the spectrum of obsessive-compulsive disorders.
Psychological & Environmental Influences
Certain external psychological and environmental factors are also thought to be contributors to pica syndrome. This may involve negative conditions during childhood, such as abuse, neglect, or even poverty. Experts predict that pica may play the role of a coping mechanism for trauma to an extent. The same can also be said for those who suffer from deep, long-term stress and anxiety; pica may very well be their outlet.
Treatments
Fortunately, there are effective treatment options designed to help those with pica syndrome and aid their recovery.
Behavioural Therapy
This simply involves teaching patients different coping mechanisms and strategies to assist them in changing their behaviour. This may include mild aversive therapy where they use mild aversions (consequences) to deter someone away from eating non-food items and reward them when they adopt healthy eating behaviours.
Differential reinforcement is also another effective therapy strategy where professionals aim to reinforce other behaviours and activities and substitute them for pica tendencies.
Medical Evaluation
Since a lack of minerals can contribute to pica, arranging blood tests is essential in helping to test for nutritional deficiency. Depending on one’s lab results, well-qualified nurse practitioners, such as those who’ve graduated from an dnp programs online may recommend increasing intake of nutritional supplements and foods.
Whether it’s a friend or a relative, if there is any chance that you know someone with pica syndrome, this little walk-through may have hopefully elevated your knowledge on how they may be affected. Perhaps you could be the first point of contact in offering help and direct them to a health professional who can provide better care.
