PICA SYNDROME AREAS SKIN

If someone suffering from pica has a taste for metallic objects, they are definitely doing themselves a lot more harm than good.

PICA SYNDROME AREAS SKIN

However, Poison Control outlines that even paint deemed safe to use indoors can have serious side effects when ingested.Ĭhoking, skin irritation, upset stomach, nausea, and dizziness are just some of the complications someone who ingests paint can expect to experience. Luckily, paint contains less harmful amounts of lead these days. When it comes to ingesting paint, lead poisoning is the immediate concern. Nutritional deficiency on its own is a source of concern, but so are the other infections that ingesting dirt can cause.Īccording to the National Eating Disorders Foundation, people could ingest animal feces and harmful parasites along with it that could cause conditions like toxoplasmosis and toxocariasis. In fact, it’s even been sold on the streets in bags specifically for consumption. Health-E News explains that clay eating has become somewhat widespread in South Africa among women who have iron deficiency. Pica can affect those with developmental disabilities in many of the same ways it does children.Ī lack of a clear understanding of the world around them can cause certain people who don’t know better to ingest substances that shouldn’t be eaten.Ĭommon Substances Consumed by People with Pica “Although gastric bypass surgery is an effective procedure for weight loss, the surgery results in malabsorption and malnutrition,” which can result in these non-food cravings, he says. Greenblatt points out.Īs a result, pica rates are much higher in developing countries where people frequently suffer from food scarcity.Īdditionally, he says that pica cases have been recorded after people have had gastric bypass surgery. “Malnutrition is the most consistent risk factor across all ages,” Dr. “For those with pica and OCD, trichotillomania (hair pulling) and excoriation (skin picking) are common and the hair and skin is commonly ingested,” he says.Īs you might imagine, pica has a tendency to affect people who have nutrient deficiencies. Greenblatt points out that people with autism, schizophrenia, and obsessive-compulsive disorder will often experience pica. Pica is often seen in tandem with other health conditions in adults.ĭr. People with Certain Mental Health Conditions “It is a normal practice for infants and young toddlers to put things in their mouths and ingest as a way of exploring the world around them.” “It is important to note the young child’s age - infants and toddlers begin to understand their surroundings by using their senses, which often includes taste,” Dr. However, just because small children exhibit this behavior does not necessarily suggest that the problem will persist as they grow older. He goes on to explain that the presence of an abnormal gut bacteria called dysbiosis is often connected to pica. Greenblatt points out that 30% of pica cases worldwide involve small children. This is not an unusual behavior, but if your child makes a long-term habit of this, it could suggest pica.ĭr. He explained: “Although the exact etiology has not been determined, iron deficiency is often the cause in pregnant women, and there is the thought that the body craves nutrients it is lacking.”Ĭhildren are known to put almost anything in their mouths. However, pregnant women have been recorded as having cravings for non-food items since as early as antiquity, according to Dr. It’s no secret that pregnant women often have strange cravings (for instance, suddenly wanting to eat pickles and peanut butter together).

Greenblatt of Walden Behavioral Care Center in Massachusetts talked with LittleThings to break down the key facts surrounding this highly unusual condition. The National Eating Disorders Association explains that the condition is called pica, an eating disorder that involves swallowing items that don’t contain significant nutritional value.ĭr. However, there are people who suffer from a rare condition that gives them the urge to eat things that aren’t food. That being said, most of us know we should steer clear of things our body can’t digest. Sure, there are plenty of non-food items that look good enough to eat, like fancy soaps or candles. Georgia Eating Disorder Treatment Locations.Intensive Outpatient Eating Disorder Treatment.Partial Hospitalization Eating Disorder Treatment.Potential Causes of Binge Eating Disorder.Binge Eating Disorder Symptoms and Signs.

Pica syndrome areas