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Maternal and Child Health Journal Jan 2013We sought to describe the impact of pica, the craving for and intentional ingestion of substances not defined as food, as a risk factor for lead poisoning in New York... (Review)
Review
We sought to describe the impact of pica, the craving for and intentional ingestion of substances not defined as food, as a risk factor for lead poisoning in New York City (NYC) pregnant women. In order to describe pregnant women with elevated blood lead levels (BLLs) who report pica, NYC health department data from 491 cases of lead-poisoned pregnant women from January 2001 to June 2009 were reviewed. Descriptive frequencies were obtained for women reporting pica. Data were compared between women reporting and not reporting pica. In NYC, of the 43 (9%) lead-poisoned pregnant women reporting pica, 42 (97.7%) were immigrants and 28 (64.6%) had consumed soil. Compared to lead-poisoned pregnant women not reporting pica, women reporting pica had higher peak BLLs (29.5 vs. 23.8 μg/dL, P = 0.0001), were more likely to have had a BLL ≥ 45 μg/dL (OR = 3.3, 95% CI, 1.25, 8.68) and receive chelation (OR = 10.88, 95% CI, 1.49, 79.25), more likely to have emigrated from Mexico (OR = 3.05, 95% CI, 1.38–6.72), and less likely to have completed high school (OR = indeterminate; 0 vs. 34%; P = 0.003). Among NYC lead-poisoned pregnant women, pica was associated with higher peak BLLs. Providers in NYC, and possibly other urban settings, should be vigilant and question pregnant women, especially immigrants, about pica and strongly consider testing this at-risk population for lead poisoning.
Topics: Adult; Confidence Intervals; Emigrants and Immigrants; Environmental Pollutants; Feeding Behavior; Female; Humans; Lead; Lead Poisoning; Maternal Exposure; New York City; Odds Ratio; Pica; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Complications; Pregnancy Outcome; Pregnant Women; Risk Factors; Young Adult
PubMed: 22302239
DOI: 10.1007/s10995-012-0947-5 -
Journal of Pediatric Nursing Dec 2012Children with sickle cell disease (SCD) are at greater risk for developing pica compared to other children. This comorbidity can result in harmful medical and... (Review)
Review
Children with sickle cell disease (SCD) are at greater risk for developing pica compared to other children. This comorbidity can result in harmful medical and nutritional, and neurodevelopmental consequences. This article will describe the medical, nutritional, and psychosocial functioning in two children with SCD and pica in order to illustrate the potential complications and correlates of this co-morbidity. In addition, the clinical implications of pica in children with SCD will be discussed.
Topics: Anemia, Sickle Cell; Child; Comorbidity; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Humans; Male; Pica; Sampling Studies; Severity of Illness Index
PubMed: 22917881
DOI: 10.1016/j.pedn.2012.07.012 -
The American Journal of Medicine Sep 2005
Topics: Deficiency Diseases; Humans; Ice; Iron Deficiencies; Pica
PubMed: 16164903
DOI: 10.1016/j.amjmed.2005.04.002 -
Journal of Pediatric Health Care :... 1993
Topics: Adolescent; Child; Child Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; Child, Preschool; Humans; Infant; Pica
PubMed: 8350239
DOI: 10.1016/0891-5245(93)90041-f -
JAMA Jun 1976
Topics: Anemia, Hypochromic; Compulsive Behavior; Humans; Iron; Iron Deficiencies; Pica
PubMed: 946894
DOI: No ID Found -
The Journal of Family Practice Jul 2014
Review
Topics: Behavior Therapy; Child; Diagnosis, Differential; Female; Humans; Medical History Taking; Pica
PubMed: 25198212
DOI: No ID Found -
Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine Dec 1984
Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Female; Ghana; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Pica; United Kingdom
PubMed: 6512812
DOI: 10.1177/014107688407701216 -
The Journal of the American Board of... 2000Pica is the compulsive eating of nonnutritive substances and can have serious medical implications. Although it has been described since antiquity, there has been no... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Pica is the compulsive eating of nonnutritive substances and can have serious medical implications. Although it has been described since antiquity, there has been no single agreed-upon explanation of the cause of such behavior.
METHODS
Databases from MEDLINE and PSYCH-Lit were searched from 1964 to the present to find relevant sources of information using the key words "pica," "obsessive-compulsive disorder," "iron-deficiency anemia," and "nutrition."
RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS
Pica is observed most commonly in areas of low socioeconomic status and is more common in women (especially pregnant women) and in children. To our knowledge, the prevalence of pica is not known. Numerous complications of the disorder have been described, including iron-deficiency anemia, lead poisoning, and helminthic infestations. Pica is probably a behavior pattern driven by multiple factors. Some recent evidence supports including pica with the obsessive-compulsive spectrum of disorders. Many different treatment regimens have been described, with variable responses. It is important to be aware of this common, but commonly missed, condition.
Topics: Databases as Topic; Female; Humans; Hypokalemia; Intestinal Obstruction; Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder; Pica; Poisoning; Pregnancy; Prevalence; Socioeconomic Factors
PubMed: 11001006
DOI: No ID Found -
Connecticut Medicine Apr 1997Pica, the persistent and compulsive ingestion of particular food items or nonnutritive substances, has been associated with iron deficiency, zinc deficiency, geophagia,... (Review)
Review
Pica, the persistent and compulsive ingestion of particular food items or nonnutritive substances, has been associated with iron deficiency, zinc deficiency, geophagia, mental deficiency, developmental delay, and a family history of pica. Nutritional, sensory physiologic, psychosocial, and cultural theories have been advanced to explain this phenomenon, but the etiology of pica is poorly understood. Pica, secondary to iron deficiency, is relatively common and remits after iron therapy. Complications of pica include abdominal problems (sometimes necessitating surgery), lead poisoning, hypokalemia, hyperkalemia, mercury poisoning, phosphorus intoxication, and dental injury. Pica is an underdiagnosed problem that can be caused by a variety of disorders and can lead to serious complications.
Topics: Adult; Humans; Iron Deficiencies; Male; Pica
PubMed: 9149482
DOI: No ID Found -
Journal of Transcultural Nursing :... Jan 1999Pica, a culture-bound illness, has occurred for centuries. The ingestion of nonfood substances such as starch, cornstarch, clay, dirt, and other material is fairly... (Review)
Review
Pica, a culture-bound illness, has occurred for centuries. The ingestion of nonfood substances such as starch, cornstarch, clay, dirt, and other material is fairly common, although the distribution of the condition varies by cultural and socioeconomic factors. The underlying cause of pica is not known, although the condition often is associated with pregnancy. There is conflicting evidence about the association of nutrient deficiencies and pica. This article presents a clinical example of pica in a pregnant 33-year-old African American woman. Implications for culturally appropriate care are discussed.
Topics: Adult; Black or African American; Attitude to Health; Female; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; Humans; Obstetric Labor, Premature; Pica; Pregnancy; Transcultural Nursing
PubMed: 10476154
DOI: 10.1177/104365969901000116