Pica – an unusual eating disorder
The topic of eating disorders is known to most of the public. The most frequently cited diseases in this category are anorexia and bulimia, which probably everyone has heard of. However, few people are aware of the existence of an extremely interesting eating disorder, which is pica.
What is pica?
Pica, also known as pernicious cravings, is an eating disorder that involves the consumption of inedible substances (such as soil, chalk and stones) and an accompanying strong craving for unprocessed nutrients such as flour and starch. The disorder derives its name from the Latin name of the magpie (pica) – this bird is known for its omnivorousness. The most common types of drinking disorder are:
- amylophagia (eating raw starch);
- equine phagia (ingesting dust);
- coprophagia (eating feces);
- geomelophagy (excessive consumption of raw potatoes);
- geophagy (eating clay / earth);
- hyalophagy (eating glass);
- lithophagy (eating stones);
- trichophagia (eating wool / hair);
- xylophagy (eating wood);
- mucophagia (ingesting nasal secretions).
The phenomenon of putting “strange” substances in the mouth is common in children several months old – it is one of the ways they learn the world around them. Consequently, drinking as a disorder begins to be diagnosed in people over the age of 2. Pica can affect all age groups, but is most commonly seen in children, especially those with developmental retardation, but also in pregnant women, especially during the first trimester, and in people with intellectual disabilities.
Etiology
The causes of distorted cravings have not been fully understood. It is most often speculated that the disorder may be caused by nutrient deficiencies, primarily iron or zinc. The physiological theory is that consuming substances such as clay or soil helps to relieve nausea, diarrhea, increase salivation, and remove toxins. Restrictive diets can also lead to distorted hunger – the person using them begins to consume inedible substances in order to ensure a sense of satiety. Pica also occurs in people with schizophrenia and obsessive-compulsive disorder, and is suspected to be a way of coping with the disease.
Diagnosis
The diagnosis of distorted appetite can be made when:
- the subject exhibits the described behavior for a period of at least one month;
- behavior related to the consumption of inedible substances is not part of a common practice in a given culture;
- there is no known other mental disorder, intellectual disability or pregnancy.
Treatment
Treatment of drinking disorders consists primarily in treating complications that can be caused by the consumption of non-food substances – the intervention of a surgeon who will have to remove the ingested objects from the inside of the body may be necessary here. Another element is the psychological assessment of the patient and the introduction of possible therapy and medications. Non-food substances lead to nutrient deficiencies which must be replaced. People who develop drinking as a result of a restrictive diet should introduce a new, healthy model of nutrition that does not threaten life and health.
Based: Advani S., Kochhar G., Chachra S. et al: Eating everything except food (PICA): a rare case report and review. J Int Prec Community Dent, 2014, 4, 1-4 Vijayendranath Nayak S., Kini R., Shetty U. et al: Pica – an eating disorder: a report and review. Arch Med Health Sci, 2017, 5, 82-84
https://www.medicalcodingbuff.com/correct-icd-10-coding-and-billing-for-pica/
https://www.everydayhealth.com/eating-disorders/pica-eating-disorder.aspx