There is no one-way or direct treatment approach for pica, as it all depends on the underlying causes. These steps will enable the doctor to diagnose pica and it’s complications and try to ascertain the cause behind it to the maximum probability. Sometimes, imaging or an X-ray may be required to identify what was consumed or to closely observe conditions such as obstructions in the intestines or bowels if any is suspected.The doctor may also conduct a stool test to check for parasitic infections.
Insufficiency of these vitamins might be a cause for eating dirt (or clay) in certain cases. Blood tests check anemia, toxins in the blood, blockages in the intestines, and for iron and zinc deficiency.
If any suspected behavior has occurred for one month or more than that, the doctor may order tests, such as blood tests or X-rays to confirm pica.The doctor may specifically want to know about the child’s food habits and the ambiance at home and school to understand the possible triggering factor.They will try to know about the child’s medical history, psychological development, and behavioral issues.If a child falls in risk group, such as a child with developmental concerns, the doctor may ask the parents if they have seen their child eating nonfood items.The doctor will primarily look at the child’s physical symptoms such as an upset stomach or any other bowel problems like bloating.Hence, a pediatrician might use the below methods (13): For example, we found that among preschool-aged children, the prevalence of pica was around 28 in. All rights reserved.There are no laboratory tests or a single approach diagnosis for pica. Pica, or the eating of non-food items, was commonly seen in young children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and other types of developmental disabilities in which the child had some autism symptoms, intellectual disability (ID), or both. Our hope is that children with pica will receive early intervention to prevent pica from developing into life-threatening behavior.Ĭopyright © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. Our hope is that administrators, professionals and practitioners will consider our guidelines and recommendations as they attempt to protect people with pica and developmental disabilities from harm by developing standards for assessment, treatment and prevention for this difficult-to-treat population. These recommendations are based on two extensive reviews of the literature and our extensive experience as practitioners in the treatment of pica. We make recommendations for assessment, treatment, and prevention of pica for practitioners. A second limitation of current research is that some studies reduced pica substantially, but pica responses still occurred at rates that are problematic in terms of prevention of adverse consequences, which leaves practitioners with the task of further decreasing pica to protect people exhibiting pica from harm. While a number of published studies have demonstrated that pica behavior can be decreased substantially with behavioral treatment, few of these studies incorporated strategies for generalization and maintenance outside of brief sessions. Studies also indicate that pica has led to the death of people with developmental disabilities. Pica is a dangerous form of self-injurious behavior that occurs in people with developmental disabilities who are institutionalized.
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