Pica
Type: Symptom
Definition
A craving to eat substances that are not food and have no nutritional value.
Clinical Details
While the exact neurological mechanism is not fully understood, severe iron deficiency frequently induces compulsive cravings for non-nutritive substances. Common cravings include ice (pagophagia), dirt, clay, or raw starch. Treating the underlying iron deficiency almost always resolves these abnormal behavioral cravings.