03 Jan Pica Disorder: What are the Causes and Complications | How to Cure
Did you know Pica eating disorder causes a compulsive drive to eat literally everything and anything?
Pica derived its name from a Latin bird “Magpie” – It’s a bird known for eating everything from food wrapper to anything shiny.
Interestingly, Pica disorder even got featured in TV shows “My Strange Addiction” and “The Woman Who Ate A House”.
Moreover, it is an alarming disorder that can result in dangerous medical complications.
From intestinal issues to brain damage, people with pica disorder may have to deal with numerous health issues.
Furthermore, pica is common among children, adults, and pregnant women. It is also culturally adopted in many ethnic populations, which is a part of the problem.
Let’s dig a little deeper and find more about what causes pica disorder and how to treat it.
What Is Pica Disorder?
A compulsive eating disorder that causes people to eat items that are not considered eatable and have no nutritional value is what pica is.
Pica is common among toddlers and children. It affects around 10 to 30% of children from age 1 to 6.
However, it can affect teens and adults as well. Adding to it, around 20% of the pica cases involve a pregnant woman.
Moreover, a person suffering from pica has cravings for non-food items.
Such pica food items may involve:
- Chalk
- Clay
- Sand
- Paint chips
- Hair
- Glue
- Dirt
- Cigarette
- Ashes
- Brick
- Ice
- Mothballs
Unfortunately, pica is often taken lightly when it happens with kids and is often ignored by adults.
And this can result in nutritional deficiency and more severe medical complications.
Henceforth, it becomes vital to know what makes people eat non-food items.
What Causes Pica Eating Disorder?
Although there are many hypotheses made regarding what causes pica, doctors are still not sure about what causes pica in adults and children.
However, some of the potential reasons behind non-nutritive ingestion are:
- Nutrient deficiency
- Mental issues or disorders
- Pregnancy
- Low dopamine levels
#1. Nutritional Deficiency
Unusual cravings are the signs of low nutritional levels that your body is trying to battle out.
As a result, nutritional deficiency is one of the top causes of pica. People mainly with a low level of iron, zinc, or calcium tend to show signs of pica.
In the growing years, a child’s body requires ample nutrients and vitamins to grow into a healthy adult. And a lack of nutrients can cause numerous health issues; pica is one of them.
Just like that, eating junk foods, having genetic nutritional disorders, harboring poor eating habits, or simply aging could be the reason behind nutritional deficiency in adults and, thus, pica.
For instance, anemia, which usually is the result of iron deficiency, could be an underlying cause of pica as well.
#2. Mental Health Conditions
When there is no nutritional deficiency, it’s hard to find what causes pica eating disorder.
However, people with pica often show symptoms of other mental health issues including depression, schizophrenia, and obsessive-compulsive disorder.
So, if you’re wondering “is pica related to depression”, the answer can very well be YES!
According to a case series, one in every five children in the United States who are admitted to mental health clinics has pica disorder.
Adding to this, this study also showed its correlation with iron deficiency anemia.
Nevertheless, people experiencing extreme stress, negligence, and trauma also showed the symptoms of pica eating disorder.
Because pica is the repeated consumption of non-food items, which is common among autistic people, a link has been established between pica and autism as well.
#3. Pregnancy
Around the world, more than 20% of pregnant women experience pica just after giving birth.
In fact, this disorder is widely common among pregnant women.
As per the Journal Of American Dietetic Association, pregnant women have pica cravings mainly because of iron deficiency.
And it starts to happen in the first trimester.
Notably, pica during pregnancy can interfere with the absorption of nutrients and could be dangerous for both mother and the child.
#4. Low level of Dopamine
There is a link between dopamine and pica.
To clarify, dopamine is a chemical that helps relay nerve impulses from one cell to another.
And as per researchers, an abnormal decline in dopamine level in the brain can cause pica.
So, these were some of the major reasons behind what causes pica disease.
And in order to keep yourself, your loved ones, and your children away from this order, you must know what the symptoms of pica are.
What Are The Early Signs And Symptoms Of Pica?
Some of the common signs of pica disorder include:
- The first and foremost sign of pica is eating non-edible items for more than 2 months.
- Frequent gastrointestinal issues and other stomach-related problems, such as blood in stool, constipation, and stomach pain.
- “Craving” to eat non-edible items even after being strictly warned and scolded.
Pica is different from other eating disorders, though.
And even when the early signs are often ignored by the majority, you must keep in mind that it’s a disorder, and, if left untreated, it can lead to innumerable health complications.
What Are The Complications Of Pica?
The complications of pica vary from person to person, depending upon the physical condition and what non-edible substance an individual chooses to eat.
Nevertheless, there are certain risks and complications that are common in pica patients, such as:
- Constipation
- Diarrhea
- Intestinal tearing
- Bacterial infection
- Gastric pain
- Blocked bowel
Moreover, those who eat paint chips are at a high risk of getting a lead infection, which can be highly dangerous.
Additionally, those with the disorder of eating substances with poisonous chemicals might witness kidney damage, brain damage, and learning disabilities.
The typical habit of chewing nails, ice, hair, and clay (to an extent) is normal behavior. And normally, children outgrow the pica disorder after some time.
Nevertheless, when the habit of consuming non-food items persists in an individual even after showing detrimental effects, or it happens to an adult including pregnant women, it needs immediate attention and treatment.
How to Treat/Cure Pica in Adults?
Treatment of pica first starts with diagnosing it, which includes a series of tests and X-rays.
Later after analyzing the report, the treatment begins.
The common approaches to treating pica disorder include:
#1. Therapy
Therapies are good in the initial stage and include the involvement of family members.
Especially, in the case of children, family members must assist to keep the non-edible items away.
The types of therapies required for getting rid of pica are:
- Behavioral Therapy
- Nutritional Counseling
- Family Therapy
- Psychoeducation
#2. Lifestyle Changes
Making some lifestyle changes can also help manage pica disorder.
Parents and patients must educate themselves about the disorder and learn about the ill effects of eating non-food items.
And for that, you need to make strategic changes:
- Spend time with family and friends.
- Get an adequate amount of sleep.
- Try to take less stress and work on your anxiety.
- Engage in alternate activities to create a distraction.
- In case you have been dealing with childhood traumas, take the required step to come out of it.
- Have a balanced diet rich in iron, zinc, and other minerals.
- Eat healthy snacks frequently.
#3. Medication
Lastly, when neither of the above-mentioned treatment works, formal treatment is often the recommended course of action.
However, there is no specific treatment for pica at this moment.
Nevertheless, some shreds of evidence show that antipsychotic medicines used for treating schizophrenia and various mood disorders are effective for pica as well.
Moreover, in case an individual has developed pica because of nutritional deficiency or dieting, the right supplementation can help deal with it.
Additionally, if pica occurs because of developmental disability, treatment of such disability might help reduce pica symptoms.
The success rate of pica treatment varies from person to person depending upon the underlying causes of pica disorder.
With proper evaluation, an effective treatment plan can lead to reduction and treatment of pica.
Furthermore, pica is hard to detect, and adding to it, people often take it lightly. But know that if left untreated, pica could be fatal.
What Happens If Pica Is Left Untreated?
When left untreated for a long period, the consequences of pica disorder could be lethal.
According to Healthcare Cost And Utilization Project Statistical Briefs, an increase of 93% was found in hospitalizations between 1999 and 2009 of people suffering from pica.
Henceforth, looking for the signs of pica and what causes pica disorder and getting it treated properly is vital to stay away from these detrimental effects and stay healthy.
Moreover, for a clearer picture, here are some questions answered.
Frequently Asked Questions
Right below are some questions frequently asked by people concerned about the disorder and who suspect they have it.
#1. How Common is pica in adults?
Pica is rare among adults who do not have a mental issue.
However, it is common among pregnant women in America and Africa. Additionally, wherein it is acceptable among certain ethnic populations, it might be common among adults.
#2. What supplement should I take for pica?
Iron deficiency is the prominent reason that causes pica disorder. Hence, consuming iron supplements might help.
However, it’s better to consult a professional health advisor before taking any supplement.
#3. Does pica cause tooth decay?
Yes.
Pica includes consuming non-eatable items like dirt and poisonous chemically loaded items like mothballs.
Hence, the dirt and chemicals may damage the tooth enamel and cause tooth decay.
#4. Is pica a neurological disorder?
Pica is not solely a neurological disorder. However, yes, pica is also recognized as a neurological disorder.
#5. Can pica cause behavioral issues?
Firstly, not only pica has associations with mental disorders but eating non-edible items can also cause brain damage. Hence, behavioral issues are inevitable.
Wind Up
When developed in childhood, most children outgrow pica symptoms. However, it requires treatment when it persists to stay for more than 2 months.
Nonetheless, adults and pregnant women with pica disorder need to get a diagnosis and start the medication or therapy right away to keep from the harmful effects of pica eating disorder.
Clearly, it’s a complex disorder and needs special focus, education, and family support to reduce the complications.
If you have been dealing with pica, it’s time to get rid of it and lead a healthy life.
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