Pica is a condition in which a person craves substances that are not food, such as clay, dirt, ice, or flecks of old paint. Pica can have a physical cause, such as iron deficiency anemia or pregnancy, or it may be due to a psychological problem.
Treatment depends on the cause and may include psychological counseling or medications to reduce the craving.
Author:Sabra L. Katz-Wise
Medical Review:Michael J. Sexton, MD - Pediatrics
Fred Volkmar, MD - Child Psychiatry
Fred Volkmar, MD - Child Psychiatry
Last Updated: 06/07/2006
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