Pica in pregnancy pdf

The persistent eating, over a period of at least one month, of substances that are not food and do not provide nutritional value. However, there is a condition called pica, where a person craves and consumes nonfood substances. Pregnancy is a memorable experience for every woman and it comes with many changes which include cravings for food and nonfood items. Pica is the craving and intentional consumption of substances not culturally defined as food. The three main sub stances consumed by pica patients are soil or clay geophagia, ice pagophagia, and laun dry or corn starch amylophagia anderson. Community practitioners and health visitors association department for children, schools and families department for work and pensions food standards agency nct. Read more about pica in kids along with causes, symptoms and diagnosis. Using a structured questionnaire administered by medical staff, information was obtained from all. Pica is an eating disorder that involves eating items that are not typically thought of as food and that do not contain significant nutritional value. Duration of pregnancy 40 weeks divided into 3 trimesters first trimester amenorrhoea, morning sickness, pica, changes in the genital organs and breasts, frequency of maturation second trimester quickening fetus can hear uterine size enlarges fetal parts felt third trimester fetal heart sounds all systems maturing increasing discomfort in mother. Conclusion we hope that this report reminds physicians of the importance and diagnostic utility of pica symptoms associated with iron deficiency, as well as the evolution of its symptoms as a result of changing technology and culture.

Maternal biochemical profiles he moglobin and ferritin during pregnancy, mean gestational age and pregnancy outcome namely height, weight, and head. Pregnancy cravings are something that most people expect during the nine months of pregnancy. To estimate the prevalence of pica during pregnancy and the postpartum period, and to. More common in females than males stiegler, 2005, geophagia is part of. Causes, common cravings, and risks during pregnancy. Pica during pregnancy eating nonfood substances may interfere with the nutrient absorption of. Table 1 prevalence of pica during pregnancy among general. Most cases of pica happen in young children and pregnant women. A metaanalysis of the worldwide prevalence of pica during. The truth is that as many as 68% of all pregnant women will experience cravings, usually due to hormonal changes.

Pica has long been associated with micronutrient deficiencies, but the strength of this relationship is unclear. In these individuals, pica is a sign that the body is trying to correct a significant nutrient deficiency. During pregnancy, nutritional requirements increase to support fetal and placental growth. The most common substances that are craved by pregnant women who have pica are clay, laundry starch and dirt. Pica is a condition in which pregnant women compulsively eat nonfood items over the course of at least a month that dont have any nutritional value, like dirt and clay. Reports of pica date to 16th thand 17 century greek and roman cultures.

Pica is common in pregnancy and is often felt to be benign. Less common items include glue, hair, cigarette ashes, and feces. No specific pregnancy complication was associated with the practice of pica. Pica is most frequently seen in children and pregnant women. Its worldwide ubiquity, prevalence among pregnant women and children, and association with both positive and negative health outcomes, especially micronutrient deficiencies, underscore the importance of understanding this behavior. Management of lead exposure in pregnant and lactating women note. Prospective, descriptive, correlational investigation with 128 women who sought prenatal care from two rural community. Pdf pica is an eating disorder characterized by the persistent ingestion of substances that the consumer does not define as food. Up to one third of children ages 1 to 6 have these eating behaviors. The cause of pica is unknown, but some experts believe it is related to the presence of iron deficiency anemia.

Its normal for kids up to 2 years old to put things in their mouth. To discover the prevalence of pica, the documentation of pica on medical records, and any relationship of pica to pregnancy outcomes in rural socioeconomically disadvantaged pregnant women. Gestational iron deficiency is associated with pica behaviors in. Pica was first described in a medical book in 1563, where geophagia was described in pregnant women and children. Cravings for unusual substances that demand to be satisfied have been reported in literature for centuries.

Pica is a condition that causes you to eat nonfood items such as chalk, dirt, feces, ashes, coffee grounds, laundry detergent, clay, and more. Characteristics of pica behavior among mothers around lake. Other pica cravings include burnt matches, stones, charcoal, mothballs, cornstarch, toothpaste, soap, sand, plaster, coffee grounds, baking soda and cigarette ashes. New ideas about an old condition young table 3 association between pica and iron deficiency andor anemia in crosssectional studies n28a population location n relationship between pica, anemia andor iron deficiencyb prevalence of pica c reference year of publication women attending antenatal clinics pemba island. Even though you may laugh at the thought, it is a serious condition. Those who are pregnant and craving nonfood items should only be diagnosed with pica when their cravings lead to ingesting nonfood items, and the ingestion of those items poses a potential medical risk either due to. Pica is a compulsive eating disorder in which people eat nonfood items. The word pica is latin for magpie which is a bird notorious for eating almost anything. Pica cravings among pregnant women are less common but are most commonly seen in children. Many women experience some minor disorder during pregnancy.

Luckily, pica isnt supercommon among pregnant women. According to the american pregnancy association, while pica can occur during pregnancy, its more often seen in kids approximately 25 to 30 percent of children. Pica is the practice of craving substances with little or no nutritional value. Pica is the pathological craving for and eating of a nonnutritive item eg, clay, coal, paper or food ingredients flour, raw potatoes.

The medical term comes from the latin name for magpie pica pica, a bird thats said to eat almost anything. These disorder should be treated adequately as they may escalate and become lifethreatening. Although this study did not show specific pregnancy complications associated with pica, other studies have shown anemia and lead poisoning among women who practice pica. Its worldwide ubiquity, prevalence among pregnant women and children, and association with both positive and negative health outcomes, especially micronutrient deficiencies. In certain ethnic populations, pica is culturally acceptable and is not considered pathological. In children and pregnant women, pica often goes away in a few months without treatment.

Pdf pica practices among pregnant women are associated with. If you are craving nonfood items during pregnancy, however, you may be suffering from pica. Although pica had been widely studied in the general. It was first reported by hippocrates in 400 bc and has been subsequently reported by investigators worldwide 1. Doctors might think its pica if a child eats nonfood items and. The aim of this study was to determine the pica and its association with biochemical profiles of pregnant women and its relation to pregnancy outcome. Symptoms and behavior the persistent eating, over a period of at least one month, of substances that are not food and do not provide nutritional value. Treating this deficiency with medication or vitamins often resolves the problems. Jun 11, 2018 while it sounds funny, the condition is pica, and it means something else is going on in your body. It is unclear how many children with pica intentionally consume dirt geophagy.

Pica is the persistent eating of substances such as dirt or paint that have no nutritional value the handbook of clinical child psychologycurrently estimates that prevalence rates of pica range. She had borderline anemia hemoglobin of 11 gdl and hematocrit of 37%, mean corpuscular volume 80% but was severely irondeficient serum. In a coastal region of kenya, 73% of pregnant women reported consumption of soil regularly during their pregnancy 27. The aim of this study was to explore the change in diet in terms of pica, food craving and aversions which occur during pregnancy. Further, very little is known about pica among mexican populations in the us and mexico. Pica is a serious condition which can be life threatening. Pica eating disorder and how to treat it newport academy. If a nutritional deficiency is causing your pica, treating it should ease your symptoms. Thirtyeight percent of these pregnant women practiced pica.

Pdf on jan 1, 2014, fahimeh khoushabi and others published pica practices among pregnant women are associated with lower hemoglobin levels and. Pica, the purposive consumption of nonfood substances, is a millenniaold nutritional enigma. No one knows what causes these unusual cravings, but a combination of biochemical, psychological, and. In some cases, underweight status before pregnancy andor failure to gain appropriate weight during pregnancy may be a sign of either a preexisting eating disorder or one that has developed during pregnancy. Pica, which comes from the latin word for magpie a bird known for eating almost anything, is a worldwide phenomenon that seems to be more common during pregnancy. Similar to alternate forms of oral stimulation, assembling a collection of items which are safe for the individual to chew, bite, mouth, andor ingest in a pica box ensures that there is always a supply of safe items on hand as an alternative to preferred pica, or nonedible items. The questionnaire of pica during pregnancy included. This puzzling phenomenon is called pica, which refers to the compulsive consumption of a nonfood substance.

Demographic and sociocultural variables, pica practices, pica substances ingested, and pregnancy outcomes were collected. Although pica, the craving and purposive consumption of nonfood substances, is common among many populations, especially during pregnancy, the health consequences are not well understood. It is actually a myth that you need to eat for two during pregnancy. A 31yearold multiparous woman at 37 07 weeks of gestation presented with esophagitis and gastritis secondary to laundry detergent. Pdf prevalence and risk factors for pica during pregnancy in. Mcadam, phd, bcbad university of rochester school of medicine department of pediatrics strong center for developmental disabilities december 2015 webinar rochester regional center for autism spectrum disorder house keeping.

Worldwide, about 28 percent of pregnant women experience pica during and just after pregnancy. The most common substances that are craved by pregnant women who have pica. Minor disorder may occur due to hormonal changes, accommodation changes, metabolic changes and postural changes. Further, very little is known about pica among mexican populations in the united states and mexico. The prevalence of pica in chil dren also varies widely around the world e.

Pica during pregnancy pregnancy, parenting and baby. Pica written by urszula kelley, md pica is an eating disorder that involves eating items that are not typically thought of as food and that do not contain significant nutritional value. A healthy, well nourished woman is more likely to have a healthy pregnancy, which increases her chances of having a healthy baby. Pica during pregnancy eating nonfood substances may interfere with the nutrient absorption of healthy food substances and actually cause a deiciency. A 31yearold multiparous woman at 37 07 weeks of gestation presented with esophagitis and gastritis secondary to laundry detergent consumption. Aug 02, 2019 in children and pregnant women, pica often goes away in a few months without treatment. Trends and consequences of consumption of food and non. Dietitians should ask pregnant women with anemia about pica and should counsel pregnant women who report pica. Articles that estimated the prevalence of pica during pregnancy andor the postpartum period up to 12 months after delivery in women of reproductive age using a selfreport questionnaire or interview were included. Minor disorders of pregnancy that you may encounter in dealing with pregnant women can be categorised according to which of the body systems is involved. It is not known exactly why pica is more common in pregnant women, but there is a theorized connection with iron deficiency according to the journal of the american dietetic association. Women practicing pica were more likely to have been underweight prior to pregnancy, and smoked fewer cigarettes. Critical information and practical strategies for parents and service providers david b.

Pica, a common disorder in children that, if left unattended can lead to serious health issues. Results thirtyeight percent of these pregnant women practiced pica. No one knows what causes these unusual cravings, but a combination of biochemical, psychological, and cultural factors may be at work. The implications of pica in pregnancy nursing for womens health. But for people with developmental or mental health concerns, it can still be a problem later in life. The disorder is more common in children, affecting 10% to 30% of young children ages 1 to 6. Often, pica cravings begin during the first trimester.

Trends and consequences of consumption of food and nonfood. It is a complex behavior that can present with any number of variations table 1, and multiple pica determinants range from demands of tradition and acquired tastes in the cultural context to presumptive neurobiological mechanisms eg, iron deficiency, cns. Trends and consequences of consumption of food and nonfood items pica by. According to dsmiv, pica is the action of nonnutritive ingestion that is repeated for a period of at least a month and is developmentally inappropriate. The majority of women will experience cravings during pregnancy. Pica exists, and might be more common than healthcare providers assume. Dirt, clay, and flaking paint are the most common items eaten. During pregnancy, substances frequently craved are dirt, chalk or clay. Although pica, the craving and purposive consumption of non. Pica practice, food craving and avoid table 2 presents dietary behaviors among the subjects in terms of pica practice, food craving and avoidance in each trimester. It is true that the majority of women will experience cravings during pregnancy. Pica, the craving and purposive consumption of substances that the consumer does not define as food, is an enigmatic behavior found around the world, especially among pregnant women cooksey, 1995. Pica is a condition when a pregnant woman wants to eat nonfood items that contain no nutritional value.

Pica is an eating disorder in which nonnutritional objects are frequently eaten, and may have serious side effects for both the mother and neonate. Pica can affect children, adolescents, and adults of any genders. This terminology is outdated and readers are referred to the acclpp. Its important to understand what pica is and how to manage these cravings to protect both the mother and child. Gastrointestinal disorders include nausea and vomiting, dislike of some foods, heartburn, pica food cravings, constipation and haemorrhoids piles. To determine the prevalence of pica, and factors associated with pica in pregnant women in zaria. Pica in pregnancy is not uncommon and, if unnoticed, may put both the mother and fetus at risk 3, 15. Therefore, pregnant women are at an increased risk of.

So the behavior isnt usually considered a disorder unless a child is older than 2. According to the journal of the american dietetic association, pica in pregnancy may be the result of an iron deficiency. Pregorexia is a recently coined term used to describe the practice of overly restricting energy intake andor overexercising dur. The association between postpartum depression and pica. Irondeficiency anemia and malnutrition are two of the most common causes of pica, followed by pregnancy. Because pica is a mental health disorder that has physical implications, like other eating disorders, both a physician that understands pica and a mental health professional who specializes in eating disorders may be required to treat the problem. Pica practices among pregnant women are associated with. Pica is often seen in kids living in poverty, or in those whove been abused or neglected.

You do need extra calories, but a gradual increase in calories as. Overall, the true prevalence of pica is likely higher in developed countries such as the u. There is a condition known as pica, and its common during pregnancy. Pica is the craving for and consumption of nonfood items, including the ingestion of earth geophagy, raw starch amylophagy, and ice pagophagy. Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders, fifth edition dsm5, american psychiatric association, arlington 20. Substances ingested included ice 1 cupday, freezer frost, laundry starch, cornstarch, clay dirt, and baked clay dirt. Taking it as a supplement and consuming more in your food before.

Women reporting daily pica practice were significantly more likely to have lower prenatal hematocrits than women who did not practice pica, or who practiced pica less frequently than daily. If you find yourself craving a handful of dirt, pica could be to blame. Africanamerican women reported practicing pica more often than other ethnicities. Most pregnancy and pica related cravings involve nonfood substances such as dirt or chalk. The name pica comes from the latin word magpie, a bird known to eat nearly anything. The following case of severe pica presenting without anemia is unusual in its presentation, laboratory findings, and treatment. Abstract objective to describe pica behavior ingestion of nonfood items in pregnant lowincome. Our finding showed a decrease in prevalence of pica and food craving with increase of each trimester of pregnancy table 2. Pica practices among pregnant women are associated with lower. The pregnancy book, including the mothers and fathers, medical and health professionals, and the many individuals and organisations. Pica in pregnant women in zaria, nigeria request pdf. This topic will provide an overview of pica, focusing on its management in pregnant women.