Pica

First, any nutritional deficiencies and other medical problems, such as lead toxicity, should be addressed.

Treatment emphasizes psychosocial, environmental, and family guidance approaches. Other successful treatments include mild aversion therapy (associating the pica behavior with bad consequences or punishment) followed by positive reinforcement for appropriate eating.

Medications may help reduce the abnormal eating behavior, if pica occurs in the course of a developmental disorder such as mental retardation or pervasive developmental disorder.

Treatment success varies. In many cases, the disorder lasts several months, then resolves spontaneously. In some cases, it may continue into adolescence or adulthood, particularly when associated with developmental disorders.

• malnutrition
• lead toxicity
• infection
• bezoar (a hardened mass of the substance in the stomach)
• intestinal obstruction

Call your health care provider if you notice that a child (or adult) has a persistent tendency to eat non-nutritive substances.

Email this page  Printer friendly  Bookmark this page