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Pica

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Pica, Pagophagia, Geophagia, Amylophagia, Trichophagia

  • See Also
  1. Eating Disorder
  2. Iron Deficiency Anemia
  • Background
  1. Derived from Latin for Magpie
    1. Bird with unusual eating habits
  • Diagnosis
  • Pica (DSM-V Definition)
  1. Persistent eating of nonnutritive, non-food substances
  2. Eating habits persist for 1 month or more
  3. No associated food aversion
  4. Not appropriate for developmental stage
  • Symptoms
  • Voracious consumption of unusual substances
  1. Ice (Pagophagia)
  2. Clay (Geophagia)
  3. Starch (Amylophagia)
  4. Hair (Trichophagia)
  • Associated conditions
  1. Pregnancy
  2. Iron Deficiency Anemia
  3. Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
  • Complications
  1. Acute or chronic toxicity
    1. Heavy Metal Poisoning (e.g. Lead Poisoning)
  2. Vitamin or Electrolyte deficiency
    1. Hypokalemia
    2. Hyperkalemia
    3. Iron Deficiency Anemia
    4. Zinc Deficiency
  3. Intestinal Obstruction
    1. Bezoar associated with Trichophagia
    2. Foreign Body Ingestion
  4. Malnutrition
    1. Failure to Thrive
    2. Achlorhydria
  5. Dental injury
  6. Parasitic Infection
  • Labs
  1. Complete Blood Count
  2. Serum Ferritin
  3. Serum Iron
  4. Lead level
  • Radiology
  1. Abdominal XRay
  • Management
  1. General nutrition counseling
  2. Manage associated conditions
    1. Iron Deficiency Anemia
    2. Lead Poisoning
    3. Parasitic Infection
    4. Intestinal Obstruction
  3. Mental health counseling
  4. Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor (SSRI)
  • References
  1. Rose (2000) J Am Board Fam Pract 13:358-8 [PubMed]