Pica can affect children, adolescents, and adults of any genders. Iron deficiency occurs when the levels of hemoglobin carried by the red blood cells are decreased. The recognition of pica is often missed so it  is important to have a high index of suspicion when people with known risk factors show suggestive signs and symptoms [10]. In these individuals, pica is a sign that the body is trying to correct a significant nutrient deficiency. 2010;4:86. Pica may be benign, or it may have life-threatening consequences [1]. Talk to our Chatbot to narrow down your search. Mouthing may sometimes result in ingestion. In these cases, eating non-food items can lead the sufferer to feel full. 2003 Sep 1;16(3):189–91. Conclusion: Despite being practised for centuries, the clinical significance of pica symptoms is often not recognised particularly among the younger physicians. A 25-year old female college graduate presented with a six-month history of abnormal uterine bleeding. Pathogenesis of pica is not well understood through the risk factors are well documented. List of causes of Pica and Anemia, alternative diagnoses, rare causes, misdiagnoses, patient stories, and much more. A lesson on pica. Get PICA full form and full name in details. It has been reported in all ages, and both sexes, and is particularly prevalent among young children, people of low socio - economic status, and pregnant women as well as in cases with micronutrient deficiencies such as iron and zinc [1–4]. Pica can be associated with intellectual disability, trichotillomania (hair pulling disorder), and excoriation (skin picking) disorder. World J Biol Psychiatry.2009 Jan 1;10(4–3):936–8. There are more sufferers than ever, it seems, but is that because more are being open about it or because there is an epidemic? Pica. Although the condition has been documented since antiquity [5], many sufferers are diagnosed with life- threatening complications such as intestinal obstruction, electrolyte imbalances, renal and liver damage [4,6]. Eating behaviour patterns suggestive of pica are also commonly associated with people suffering from schizophrenia, obsessive-compulsive disorder and at times of family stress [14, 15]. Blood tests can also be done to test for anemia . Pica & Severe Anemia Symptom Checker: Possible causes include Iron Deficiency. Pica is typically defined as the persistent ingestion of non-nutritive substances for at least one month at an age when this behaviour is developmentally inappropriate. Generally, those with pica are not averse to ingesting food. Typical substances ingested tend to vary with age and availability. Dumaguing NI, Singh I, Sethi M, Devanand DP. Vaginal examination revealed a blood-stained glove. Iron deficiency is usually considered a symptom rather than a cause. Whenever the underlying cause for pica is related to some mineral or vitamin deficiency, it is very important to include food items rich with that particular mineral or vitamin in the daily diet as directed by the nutrition advisor. Find out what is the full meaning of PICA on Abbreviations.com! Sodium chloride pica is a very rare form of pica [4]. Acknowledgments: We acknowledge the staff of Paradise specialised clinic for their support. Pica may present in many forms including the ingestion of ice cubes (pagophagia), clay (geophagia), dried pasta (amylophagia), chalk, paste, starch, kayexalate resin (resinphagia), lemons, tomatoes, cigarette butts, hair, lead, and laundry starch [2,3,7,8]. 'Posterior Inferior Cerebellar Artery' is one option -- get in to view more @ The Web's largest and most authoritative acronyms and abbreviations resource. The literature contains contracting data on the levels of oxidative stress and antioxidant levels in patients with iron-deficiency anemia (IDA). Coltman described a form of pica, compulsive ice eat- ing, that he called pagophagia.4 In double-blind studies, he found that iron-deficient ice eaters lost their craving for ice approximately 2 weeks after iron supplemen- tation. Her pica symptoms and anemia resolved fol- Diagnosing pica should be accompanied by tests for anemia, potential intestinal blockages, and toxic side effects of substances consumed (i.e., lead in paint, bacteria or parasites from dirt). Introduction: Pica is a mysterious condition characterised by patients developing cravings for non- nutritive substances that may escalate into serious medical complications.We present two case reports with a somewhat unusual nature of presentation attributed to iron deficiency. The eating of these substances must be developmentally inappropriate. It is one of the best place for finding expanded names. Am J Med. In some cultures, eating clay a form of pica called geophagia is an accepted behavior. The condition is often associated with iron deficiency with the majority of cases responding well to iron replacement [9]. Because pica can occur in people who have poor nutrition, the health care provider may test blood levels of iron and zinc. There was a significantly higher prevalence of pica among patients homozygous for Hb S (Hb SS, sickle cell anemia) compared with the combined group of double heterozygous patients with Hb SC, Hb SD, and Hb Sβ thallasemia (Sβ + or Sβ 0) (35.6% vs 25.5%; P = .03). An unusual but completely reversible form of pica in the form obsessive compulsive sponge eating (pervasive disorder) was reported as an odd manifestation of IDA and CD. It is unclear how many people are affected by pica. Thrombocytosis occurred only in women and was more prevalent in those with pica (20.4% vs. 8.3%; p = 0.0050). A plausible hypothesis regarding pica suggests that the appetite-regulating brain enzymes, being altered by an iron or zinc deficiency, trigger specific cravings. The second is 15- year old African girl who presented with bleeding from the nose, habitual smelling of soil, consuming ice packs and chewing rubber bands. Scientists in the autism community have developed several different effective interventions, including redirecting the person’s attention away from the desired object and rewarding them for discarding or setting down the non-food item. However, the beginning of pica symptoms in our cases were preceded by a history blood loss and this may suggest otherwise. Alternatively, the behaviour may just be a preference and enjoyment of the taste and texture of the items being consumed [12]. Treating this deficiency with medication or vitamins often resolves the problems. Pica symptoms usually go unnoticed until a physician inquires explicitly about them or when the associated complications occur [4]. Over the course of these symptoms she had uncharacteristically been fond of the smell of soil and consuming ice packs followed by chewing rubber bands. It is commonly associated with other pica cravings [4-6], and has been mostly reported with iron and/or calcium deficiency [7-11] and thus, responds to treatment of underlying deficiency without any other intervention.In the present case, there was no other pica craving or iron and calcium deficiency. Abstract. Medical problems including nutritional deficiencies, diseases of the GI, oral, metabolic, and central nervous systems as well as restrictive diets, electrolyte imbalances, toxins, and conditions leading to polyphagia should be ruled out but are uncommon. Within genotype, mean Hb levels were significantly lower and reticulocyte counts were significantly higher in the patients with pica. Mohave County US. BioScience.1978 Mar1;28(3):171–7. The condition is more frequent in those with autism and intellectual disabilities. The consumption of dirt, clay, and chalk for the nutritional value that they might contain is called geophagy (1). A historical assessment. Microcytic Anemia & Pallor & Pica Symptom Checker: Possible causes include Iron Deficiency Anemia. Public Health Rep Wash DC 1974.1990 Feb;105(1):29–35. Pica remains a challenging clinical condition despite being documented for centuries [5]. 2001Mar;59(3):561–5. 1998). And while we know anemia can cause a host of symptom s, pica isn’t often usually on our radar. All patients met criteria for pica under the DSM-5 criteria [1] and they all responded well to treatment. Laboratory investigations: haemoglobin (Hb) was7.8g/dl. Hb was 8g/dl. A peripheral blood smear showed anisocytosis and pencil-shaped red blood cells. Conclusion: The medical practice is full of challenges and complexity; and clinicians need to be vigilant all the time in their practice to appreciate unusual and rare manifestations of common clinical conditions like IDA and CD. ObstetGynecol.2003 Nov;102(5) Pt 2):1169–71. It is proposed that the pica behaviour is possibly a mechanism to compensate for a nutritional deficiency. Check the full list of possible causes and conditions now! Nineteen patients developed a second episode of iron deficiency or depletion; concordance of recurrent pica (or absence of pica) was 95%. 1992 Mar;160:341–54. Download full-text PDF ... parameters diagnostic for iron deficiency anemia. There’s no single cause of pica. Copyright 2010-2012 South Sudan Medical Journal. For example, anemia, usually from iron … Pica is seen more in young children than adults. Dieting and malnourishment can both lead to pica. Learn more about eating disorders statistics >. There was stressor in the onset in the form of her son’s annual examinations. Ukaonu C, Hill DA, Christensen F. Hypokalemic myopathy in pregnancy caused by clay ingestion. The ingestion of the substance(s) is not a part of culturally supported or socially normative practice (e.g., some cultures promote eating clay as part of a medicinal practice). She reported a history of periodic dizziness with an episode of fainting. Interestingly, though, for our cases, the pica behaviour was noticed by caretakers who thought the behaviour had a medical significance and sought medical attention. Mean total iron-binding capacity was higher and mean serum ferritin was lower in patients with pica. All rights reserved. Visit to know long meaning of PICA acronym and abbreviations. Iron-deficiency anemia and malnutrition are two of the most common causes of pica, followed by pregnancy. Anemia is defined as a decrease in hemoglobin or hematocrit levels below the 2.5th percentile for age, race, and sex. Although this condition has been well described among pregnant women and malnourished children, particularly in developing countries, it has not been previously reported to occur following gastric bypass surgery for treatment of severe obesity. Most of these items include some type of clay in them, wh… They may include paper, soap, cloth, hair, string, wool, soil, chalk, talcum powder, paint, gum, metal, pebbles, charcoal, ash, clay, starch, or ice. Most physicians believe pica is an effect rather than a cause of iron deficiency [9]. Pica, or the ingestion of non-food or non-nutritive items, is a well-known manifestation of iron deficiency. There are a few studies on serum trace element levels of patients with pica. It is unclear how many children with pica intentionally consume dirt (geophagy). Pica can also occur during pregnancy. Globally, this deficiency affects 9-16% of adult women (1). Pica is defined as developmentally inappropriate consumption of nonnutritive substances for at least 1 month. American Psychiatric Association. Culture, Diet, and Nutrition: Selected Themes and Topics. There are no laboratory tests for pica. The first-line treatment for pica involves testing for mineral or nutrient deficiencies and correcting those. Lacey EP. In poisoning or exposure to infectious agents, the reported symptoms are extremely variable and are related to the type of toxin or infectious agent ingested.Physical findings may include the following: 1. Instead, the diagnosis is made from a clinical history of the patient. Grivetti LE. Anemia, especially iron-deficiency anemia, is one of the known causes for this eating disorder. The first is a 25-year old African woman with abnormal uterine bleeding presenting with a fondness for eating clay, cold drinks, and icepacks. 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