There was no association between the severity of anemia and the frequency of pica.Ĭomparison of complete blood count parameters in cases with and without pica is shown in Table III. The frequency of pica was 41.2% in cases with hemoglobin values equal or lower than 8 g/dl (p = 0.723). There was no statistically significant difference among the frequencies of pica in cases with hemoglobin values lower and greater than 10 g/dl (36.6 and 31.2% respectively p = 0.683). The relationship between pica and sex could not be evaluated because of small number of male patients. Briefly, pica frequency was not different among age groups. Anemia was defined as a hemoglobin 35 years, respectively (p = 0.862). There was no refractory or relapsing pica among patients after treatment of IDA.Ĭomplete blood counts have been performed with automated analyzer (Abbott Cell-Dyn 4.000, Abbott Park, IL, USA). All of the patients with pica were included since none were unwilling to participate. During the history taking pica was explained to the patients and none of them hesitated to give information about their habits. None of the subjects had psychological complaints nor previous psychological history. A standard questionnaire form was used which included corresponding address, medical and pica history, physical examination findings, laboratory results and the prescriptions. Written informed consent was taken from all patients. All interviews were conducted by the authors of the study. Study was performed prospectively between October 2005 and December 2006 among patients admitted to Gulhane Military Medical Academy Hematology Department and diagnosed as iron deficiency anemia. The aim of the current study is to investigate the frequency and types of pica and the relationship of pica with patient characteristics. Pica usually is the manifestation of iron deficiency anemia (IDA) and is relieved when condition is treated. Consultations with a mental health counselor and nutritionist were recommended.Pica is the persistent eating of a non-nutritional substance as defined by the American Psychiatric Association and the most common of which is eating soil and ice. The iron deficiency was thought to be the cause of his pica. His GI symptoms gradually resolved, as did his pica. This child was treated with parenteral iron, because he refused oral iron. Accumulation of ingested pebbles in the colon can lead to intestinal obstruction. There can be many adverse medical consequences of pica depending on the type of substance ingested. 3 In addition, pica is common in infants and children who require prolonged (more than 1 month) total parenteral nutrition and receive no enteral nutrition. Specific nutritional deficiencies of particular trace elements may trigger the behavior.1 Iron deficiency is frequently associated with pica. 3 The basis of this unusual craving for nonfood items remains obscure. 1,2 Its name comes from Pica hudsonia, the Latin term for magpie-a bird that is believed to eat almost anything. Pica involves repeated or chronic ingestion of nonnutritive substances (such as plaster, charcoal, clay, wool, ashes, paint, and dirt) for at least 1 month. Mean corpuscular volume was 74 fL, mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration, 32.2 g/dL red blood cell count, 47,200/μL and platelet count, 484,000/μL. Laboratory studies revealed a hemoglobin level of 11.3 g/dL, an iron level of 28 μg/dL, and a ferritin level of 5 ng/mL. Air was present throughout the bowel there was no sign of obstruction. An abdominal radiograph showed multiple round densities, suggestive of pebbles. Physical examination findings were unremarkable. His family was of low socioeconomic status his mother, a single parent, received social assistance. Small pebbles had been noted in the child’s stool. He recently had had abdominal pain and some discomfort with defecation. The child had a tendency toward constipation. The mother of a 4-year-old boy was concerned about his habit of eating stones and wall plaster the habit had persisted for the past year.
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