Pica is a medical condition typically defined as the persistent eating of non-food items for a period of at least one month. People with pica crave and eat materials such as dirt, clay, chalk, lead chips, laundry starch, dishwashing soap, chalk, burnt matches, and many other non-food substances. Some of these substances are poisonous.
Who gets pica?
Many young children have pica at some point during their childhood. Pica can be episodic, meaning that periods of non-food cravings occur only occasionally. While infants and toddlers often eat dirt and other non-food items, this is not considered to be pica because the behavior is not associated with cravings. Some little children just put everything into their mouths as a mode of exploration. Toddlers over the age of two who eat non-food substances on a consistent basis may be considered to have pica.
Pregnant and postpartum women are known to get pica. Pica also occurs among people with certain illnesses such as epilepsy, as well as in persons with mental retardation, autism, or mental illness. Pica is the most common eating disorder among individuals with mental retardation.
Pica occurs throughout the world and is considered an acceptable practice in certain cultures. In Uganda, for example, soils are made available for purchase for the purpose of eating. Eating clay is also a documented practice in parts of the United States.
http://www.metrokc.gov/health/tsp/pica.htm
See~ we aren't crazy!!! Well, at least you aren't!!
