![]() ![]() The child has risk factors for pica, such as intellectual or developmental disabilities.The behavior is out of character for the child's age or developmental stage.The child has been eating non-food items for longer than a month.Several signs point to pica disorder, such as: Irregular or abnormal heart rhythms (arrhythmias).As a result of pica, other secondary symptoms may arise, including: The most prominent symptom of pica is the compulsive eating of non-food items. While pica is deemed fairly common, health care professionals may miss this diagnosis, especially when they aren’t made aware of some common symptoms. Pregnant women (typically, expectant moms with pica chew a lot of ice).Those with certain mental health illnesses (primarily schizophrenia), developmental disorders (especially autism spectrum disorder) and intellectual disabilities.However, those most prone to developing the disorder include: Affects 10% of individuals who have developmental issuesĪnyone at any age can have pica.Impacts up to 50% of toddlers ages 18 to 36 months.Is present in 10% of children older than 12.While the prevalence of pica is unclear, a recent study revealed that pica: They tend to be compulsive about one or two things only.” Is Pica a Common Eating Disorder? “There may be lots of other objects around them, but if their craving is for paint, they will leave the other items alone and continue to peel paint from the wall and eat it. “Most people with pica generally go for one thing, such as paint they peel off the wall,” said Ayodeji Otegbeye, M.D., a pediatrician with Pediatrix® Urgent Care of Florida. For example, someone who craves chalk will likely continue eating chalk and not venture toward other items, such as soap or metal. Their compulsion to eat non-food items is generally uncontrollable, and they are often, but not always, drawn to the same thing. Individuals with developmental problems, mental health issues or malnutrition or hunger, those lacking certain nutrients and those suffering from stress or abuse are most susceptible to having pica disorder. Among them is pica, a condition that causes people to eat non-food items that have no nutritional value, such as: Several forms of eating disorders affect children and adolescents. ![]() ![]() More than 10,000 deaths annually are attributed to eating disorders, such as anorexia and bulimia nervosa, binge-eating disorder, rumination syndrome and avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder. According to the National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders, about 24 million people in the United States suffer from an eating disorder. ![]()
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