Pregnancy and sickle cell anemia are two conditions that have connections to pica. These include conditions that a person might develop spontaneously, conditions they had at birth because of disruptions in how they developed in the womb and genetic disorders they inherited from their parents. Iron (anemia), calcium and zinc deficiencies are some of the most common reasons people show these signs. People who show signs of pica often have mineral or other deficiencies in their diet. It also might be attention-seeking behavior, especially when one or both parents are absent for any reason. Some possible explanations include that pica is a coping mechanism for children to deal with situations of abuse or neglect. Pica is more common in children living in low socioeconomic situations (such as poverty), but why this happens is unknown. Pica might be an outlet or coping mechanism for people with these issues. A cultural example of this commonly happens in cities in the country of South Africa, where it’s a common practice among young women. A religious example of this is the practice of eating dirt at El Santuario de Chimayó, a Roman Catholic shrine in New Mexico, USA. Certain types of pica are common, socially accepted behaviors in certain cultures and religions. However, researchers know certain factors increase the risk of developing it. People with pica often eat the following:Įxperts don’t know exactly why pica happens.

Small intestine and large intestine obstruction/blockage.Other conditions that can happen because of pica include: However, pica can cause other conditions or issues, which have their own sets of symptoms. Most people with this condition prefer a single type of non-food item they eat. The sole symptom of pica is compulsively eating things that aren’t food or have no nutritional value or benefit. Because of this, people with this condition often don’t seek treatment or are afraid to open up about it to their healthcare provider. People with pica often feel embarrassed or ashamed about this condition. People can also contract illnesses from eating feces (poop), especially pet feces that might contain parasites or other germs. Parasites that live in the soil can also infect people who eat dirt or clay (geophagia).

An example is when people eat hair (known as trichophagia), which can get stuck in their digestive tract, causing blockages, tearing or other damage. It can also lead to dangerous problems even when you eat things that aren’t toxic. For others, it can lead to eating dangerous or toxic items.ĭepending on what you eat, pica can damage your teeth. For people who eat things like ice - a common behavior for someone who is pregnant - pica is harmless. Pica can have a wide range of effects depending on what non-food item(s) a person eats. Because it’s compulsive, people with this condition have a very hard time controlling the urge on their own. Pica is a condition where a person compulsively eats things that aren’t food and don’t have any nutritional value. This kind of pica usually goes away on its own very quickly. Yet another reason is that infants and young children often put things in their mouths, which is part of their normal development. This can happen when people don’t tell their doctor about it or don’t report signs of it in their children. It’s also common for healthcare providers to miss the condition entirely. That’s partly because research studies often don’t use the same definition for this condition. Pica is a relatively common condition, but experts aren’t sure exactly how common it is. People with certain mental health conditions, especially autism spectrum disorder, intellectual disabilities or schizophrenia.Young children, especially those under 6 years old.Pica can happen to anyone at any age but tends to happen in three specific groups of people:

This bird has a reputation for eating unusual objects. Pronounced “PIKE-ah,” pica gets its name from a bird species, the Eurasian magpie (the formal Latin name for that species is Pica pica). However, it can cause major problems if a person with this condition eats something toxic or dangerous. Depending on when and why a person does this, pica can be normal, expected and harmless. Pica is an eating disorder where a person compulsively eats things that aren’t food and don’t have any nutritional value or purpose.

Pica candy