Pica Overview
Learn About Pica
Pica is a pattern of eating non-food materials, such as dirt or paper.
Geophagy; Lead poisoning - pica
Pica is seen more in young children than adults. Up to one third of children ages 1 to 6 years have these eating behaviors. It is unclear how many children with pica intentionally consume dirt (geophagy).
Pica can also occur during pregnancy. In some cases, a lack of certain nutrients, such as iron and zinc, may trigger the unusual cravings. Pica may also occur in adults who crave a certain texture in their mouth.
Children and adults with pica may eat:
- Animal feces
- Clay
- Dirt
- Hairballs
- Ice
- Paint
- Sand
This pattern of eating must last for at least 1 month to fit the diagnosis of pica.
Depending on what is being eaten and how much, symptoms of other problems may be present, such as:
- Belly pain, nausea, and bloating caused by blockage in the stomach or intestine
- Fatigue
- Behavior problems, school problems and other findings of lead poisoning or poor nutrition
Treatment should first address any missing nutrients or other medical problems, such as lead poisoning.
Treating pica involves behaviors, the environment, and family education. One form of treatment associates the pica behavior with negative consequences or punishment (mild aversion therapy). Then the person gets rewarded for eating normal foods.
Medicines may help reduce the abnormal eating behavior if pica is part of a developmental disorder such as intellectual disability.
North Shore - Lij Medical PC
Amir Dehdashti is a Neurosurgery provider in Great Neck, New York. Dr. Dehdashti and is rated as an Advanced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Pica. His top areas of expertise are Cerebral Arteriovenous Malformation, Moyamoya Disease, Pituitary Tumor, Cerebral Artery Bypass Surgery, and Extracranial-Intracranial Bypass Surgery.
David Chalif is a Neurosurgery provider in Westbury, New York. Dr. Chalif and is rated as an Advanced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Pica. His top areas of expertise are Brain Aneurysm, Subarachnoid Hemorrhage, Apoplexy, Awake Craniotomy, and Craniectomy.
Icahn School Of Medicine At Mount Sinai
Joshua Bederson is a Neurosurgery provider in Yonkers, New York. Dr. Bederson and is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Pica. His top areas of expertise are Meningioma, Pituitary Tumor, Arteriovenous Malformation, Balloon Sinuplasty, and Thrombectomy.
Treatment success varies. In many cases, the disorder lasts several months and then disappears on its own. In some cases, it may continue into the teen years or adulthood, especially when it occurs with developmental disorders.
Complications include:
- Bezoar (a mass of undigestible material trapped inside the body, most often in the stomach)
- Infection
Contact your provider if you notice that your child (or an adult) is eating nonfood materials.
There is no specific prevention. Getting adequate nutrition may help.
Published Date: May 04, 2024
Published By: Fred K. Berger, MD, addiction and forensic psychiatrist, Scripps Memorial Hospital, La Jolla, CA. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.
DeLoughery TG. Microcytic and hypochromic anemias. In: Goldman L, Cooney KA, eds. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 27th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2024:chap 145.
Katzman DK, Norris ML. Feeding and eating disorders. In: Feldman M, Friedman LS, Brandt LJ, eds. Sleisenger and Fordtran's Gastrointestinal and Liver Disease: Pathophysiology/Diagnosis/Management. 11th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2021:chap 9.
Samsel CB, Walter HJ, DeMaso DR. Rumination and pica. In: Kliegman RM, St. Geme JW, Blum NJ, et al, eds. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 22nd ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2025:chap 36.