In plain words
Pica is a strong urge to eat things that are not food. Some people crave ice, clay, dirt, chalk, or raw starch. It is more common in pregnancy and sometimes appears with , although the link is not always clear. Eating non-food items can cause harm, such as gut blockage, lead exposure, or dental damage. A provider can check iron and blood count, and providers hear about these cravings often. Many people find the craving eases once iron levels are treated. Providers can also discuss safer alternatives and next steps.
The deeper version
DSM-5 (American Psychiatric Association, 2013) defines pica as persistent eating of nonnutritive, nonfood substances for at least one month, inappropriate to developmental level, and not part of a culturally normative practice. In pregnancy, pica is commonly associated with iron deficiency, and it is studied as a symptom of anemia; evidence for a direct causal role of iron deficiency in craving is mixed. Clay and earth ingestion carries risks of heavy metal exposure, intestinal obstruction, and parasitic infection. Clinical evaluation includes complete blood count, , and assessment of other nutritional deficiencies, and the approach to craving is individualized rather than prescriptive.
Where it comes up
- Cravings and food aversionsPregnancy: Eating
- Low iron and anemiaPregnancy: Your Body
- Iron-rich foods and how to absorb themPregnancy: Eating
- Blood-building foods after birthNourishment and Traditions
- Anemia and exhaustion after birthPostpartum: Your Body
What mothers here say about pica
No one has posted under this term yet.
Sources
- American Psychiatric Association — Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5), 2013