Pica
What is Pica?
Pica is an eating disorder where people crave and eat things that are not food. Common items include dirt, clay, chalk, paint chips, paper, ice, hair, or soap. These cravings last for at least one month and go beyond normal childhood exploration.
Pica can affect anyone, but it is most common in young children, pregnant women, and people with developmental conditions. The behavior can lead to serious health problems like lead poisoning, intestinal blockages, infections, and nutrient deficiencies. Some people eat non-food items due to iron deficiency or zinc deficiency, while others may have psychological or developmental reasons.
Early detection and treatment are important to prevent long-term health damage. Blood tests can identify dangerous exposures like lead and reveal underlying nutritional deficiencies that may be driving the behavior. Addressing the root cause, whether nutritional or behavioral, helps people stop eating non-food items safely.
Symptoms
- Eating non-food items like dirt, clay, chalk, paint chips, or paper
- Stomach pain or cramping
- Nausea or vomiting
- Constipation or intestinal blockages
- Fatigue or weakness
- Pale skin, which may signal anemia
- Damaged teeth or gums from chewing hard substances
- Infections from eating contaminated items
- Behavioral changes or developmental delays in children
Some people with pica have no obvious symptoms at first. Health problems may develop slowly over time as toxins build up or nutritional deficiencies worsen.
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Causes and risk factors
Pica has multiple possible causes. Nutritional deficiencies, especially iron deficiency and zinc deficiency, are common triggers. The body may crave non-food items in an attempt to get missing nutrients. Pregnancy can also trigger pica due to increased nutritional needs and hormonal changes. Developmental conditions like autism spectrum disorder and intellectual disabilities increase risk.
Mental health conditions including obsessive-compulsive disorder and schizophrenia are associated with pica. Cultural practices and learned behaviors can play a role in some communities. Stress, trauma, and neglect may contribute to pica in children and adults. Young children between ages 1 and 6 are at highest risk as they explore the world by putting things in their mouths.
How it's diagnosed
Doctors diagnose pica through medical history, physical examination, and observation of eating behaviors. They will ask about what non-food items are being eaten, how often, and for how long. Blood tests are essential to check for nutritional deficiencies and detect dangerous exposures like lead poisoning. Children with pica who eat paint chips or dirt are at very high risk for lead toxicity.
Rite Aid offers blood lead testing as an add-on to help screen for lead exposure in people with pica. Additional tests may check iron levels, zinc levels, and complete blood count to identify anemia. Imaging tests like X-rays may be needed if intestinal blockages are suspected. A mental health evaluation can help identify psychological causes.
Treatment options
- Treat underlying nutritional deficiencies with iron supplements, zinc supplements, or other nutrients as directed by a doctor
- Remove access to non-food items that are being eaten
- Behavioral therapy to change eating patterns and address psychological causes
- Applied behavior analysis for children with developmental conditions
- Chelation therapy for severe lead poisoning to remove heavy metals from the body
- Monitor and treat complications like infections or intestinal blockages
- Regular blood testing to track nutrient levels and toxic exposures
- Mental health support for underlying anxiety, stress, or trauma
- Parent education and home safety measures for children with pica
- Address pregnancy-related nutritional needs with prenatal vitamins and proper nutrition
Need testing for Pica? Add it to your panel.
- Simple blood draw at your nearest lab
- Results in days, not weeks
- Share results with your doctor
Frequently asked questions
Pica is an eating disorder where people repeatedly eat non-food items like dirt, paint chips, chalk, or paper for at least one month. It most commonly affects young children ages 1 to 6, pregnant women, and people with developmental or mental health conditions. The behavior goes beyond normal childhood exploration and can cause serious health problems.
Common items include dirt, clay, chalk, paint chips, paper, ice, hair, soap, and starch. Some people eat burned matches, cigarette ashes, or plastic. The specific items vary by person and can depend on what is easily available in their environment.
People with pica who eat paint chips, dirt, or dust may be exposed to lead, especially in older homes with lead-based paint. Lead is toxic to the brain and nervous system, causing developmental delays, learning problems, and organ damage. Children are especially vulnerable because their developing brains absorb lead more easily than adults.
Doctors diagnose pica by asking about eating behaviors and what non-food items are consumed. Blood tests check for lead exposure, iron deficiency, zinc deficiency, and anemia. X-rays may be done to check for intestinal blockages, and a mental health evaluation can identify psychological causes.
Yes, blood tests are essential for people with pica. A blood lead test detects dangerous lead exposure from eating paint chips or contaminated soil. Other blood tests can reveal iron deficiency or zinc deficiency that may be causing the cravings. Regular testing helps monitor treatment progress.
Pica can cause lead poisoning, intestinal blockages, infections from contaminated items, dental damage, and parasitic infections. It can lead to iron deficiency anemia, zinc deficiency, and malnutrition. Severe cases may result in poisoning, organ damage, or life-threatening bowel obstructions that require surgery.
Nutritional deficiencies, especially iron and zinc deficiency, are common causes of pica. The body may crave non-food items as an unusual response to missing nutrients. However, pica can also be caused by developmental conditions, mental health disorders, pregnancy, stress, or learned behaviors.
Treatment focuses on the underlying cause. Iron or zinc supplements correct nutritional deficiencies. Behavioral therapy helps change eating patterns and address psychological issues. For lead poisoning, chelation therapy may be needed to remove heavy metals from the body. Removing access to non-food items and creating a safe environment are important steps.
Pica in young children sometimes resolves as they grow older and learn what is safe to eat. However, pica caused by nutritional deficiencies or developmental conditions usually requires treatment. Without intervention, pica can continue for years and cause serious health complications that worsen over time.
Ensure children get proper nutrition with iron-rich foods and a balanced diet. Keep non-food items out of reach and supervise young children closely. Test your home for lead-based paint if it was built before 1978. Teach children what is safe to eat and seek help early if you notice unusual eating behaviors.