It has been reported in all ages, and both sexes, and is particularly prevalent among young children, people of low socio - economic status, and pregnant women as well as in cases with micronutrient deficiencies such as iron and zinc. The condition is more frequent in those with autism and intellectual disabilities. Pica may be benign, or it may have life-threatening consequences. The definition is occasionally broadened to include the chewing non-nutritive substances.
Pica is typically defined as the persistent ingestion of non-nutritive substances for at least one month at an age when this behaviour is developmentally inappropriate. Keywords: pica, eating disorder, iron deficiency anaemia, case report. We are convinced that pica is an important pointer to iron deficiency and clinicians should suspect occult blood loss in a patient presenting with pica symptoms. Both our patients responded well to managing the primary cause of blood loss and iron supplementation. Both presented with haematological parameters diagnostic of iron deficiency anaemia.Ĭonclusion: Despite being practised for centuries, the clinical significance of pica symptoms is often not recognised particularly among the younger physicians. The second is 15- year old African girl who presented with bleeding from the nose, habitual smelling of soil, consuming ice packs and chewing rubber bands. The first is a 25-year old African woman with abnormal uterine bleeding presenting with a fondness for eating clay, cold drinks, and icepacks. We present two case reports with a somewhat unusual nature of presentation attributed to iron deficiency. I ntroduction: Pica is a mysterious condition characterised by patients developing cravings for non- nutritive substances that may escalate into serious medical complications. Author(s): Azan A Nyundo (a), Godfrey Mwasada (b), Bonaventura C.T Mpondo (c)Ī Department of Internal Medicine (Division of Psychiatry), School of Medicine and Dentistry, The University of Dodoma, Dodoma, Tanzaniaī Paradise Specialized Clinic, Mbeya, TanzaniaĬ Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine and Dentistry, The University of Dodoma, Dodoma, TanzaniaĬorrespondence: Azan A Nyundo
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