Overview
Pica is the persistent eating of non-nutritive, non-food substances 1. It is often associated with iron deficiency 1.Diagnosis
A sympathetic, nonjudgmental approach is valuable for eliciting a history of pica 1.
Consider iron deficiency in patients with pica 1.Management
Treating iron deficiency may resolve pica 1.Special Populations
Pica can be associated with iron deficiency in pregnancy 1.Key Recommendations
Consider iron deficiency in patients presenting with pica 1. (Evidence: Expert opinion)
A sympathetic, nonjudgmental approach is recommended when taking a medical history to elicit pica 1. (Evidence: Expert opinion)
Treatment of iron deficiency may resolve pica 1. (Evidence: Expert opinion)References
1 Moore DF, Sears DA. Pica, iron deficiency, and the medical history. The American journal of medicine 1994. link90309-3)