How to Detect Pica Disorder

Pica is an eating disorder characterized by the craving and consumption on non-food items. Items often eaten include dirt, paint chips, and ice. Pica disorder can affect any age group but is often seen in pregnant women and children. Pica disorder is diagnosed when the behavior lasts for more than one month and is not a normal characteristic of the patient's developmental stage. Although the exact causes of pica disorder are unknown, there may be several factors that indicate the presence of pica disorder.

Instructions

• 1

  Discuss any cravings to eat non-food items with a doctor. Although this may be embarrassing, the doctor can recommend techniques to reduce and cope with the cravings and asses your psychological state.

• 2

  Consent to blood and urine tests to help diagnose pica disorder. Pica disorder may be related to nutrition deficiencies such as anemia. Often the item ingested is related to the deficiency. Blood and urine tests can also detect an overabundance of nutrients or minerals related to the increased ingestion of non-food items.

• 3

  Watch for non-food items in the feces. This is easy to notice when changing a small child's diaper and could save his life. Other signs of ingestion include stomach distension and pain. Intestinal obstruction could occur if the objects eaten are very large or accumulate quickly in the intestines.

• 4

  Notice any attempts to eat non-food items. Although some may choose to eat these items in private, others will readily eat them in public. The compulsion to eat non-food items is often greater at night or in other inconvenient situations.

• 5

  Check for signs of tooth destruction and decay. Eating non-food substances often leads to enamel erosion and mouth pain. Over time, teeth could have a worn or even jagged appearance.