Pica is an eating disorder where an individual eats substances that have no nutritional value. Pica is considered abnormal when it occurs after a certain age, for instance after age 2 or 3. Individuals presenting with pica have been reported to ingest a wide variety of nonfood substances, including, but not limited to, clay, dirt, sand, stones, pebbles, hair, feces, lead, laundry starch, vinyl gloves, plastic, pencil erasers, ice, fingernails, paper, paint chips, coal, chalk, wood, plaster, light bulbs, needles, string, and cigarette butts.

Pica is seen more in young children than adults, with 10-32% of children aged 1 to 6 exhibiting these behaviors. Pica can occur during pregnancy. In some cases, specific nutritional deficiencies, such as iron deficiency anemia and zinc deficiency, may trigger the unusual cravings. Pica may also occur in adults who crave a certain texture in their mouth.

What do you have for iron deficiency anemia? I had this years ago and also the ice-eating pica that sometimes goes with it. I have developed the pica again and would like to get what I need from your products.

Signs and tests for Pica
There is no single test that confirms pica, but because pica is associated with abnormal nutritient levels and in some cases malnutrition, blood levels of iron and zinc should be tested. Hemoglobin can also be checked to test for anemia. Lead levels should always be checked in children who may have eaten paint or objects covered in lead-paint dust. The presence of infection may be detected if contaminated soil or animal waste is being ingested.

Questions
Q. I came to your website when searching for pica eating habit of pencil needle. I had this habit when I was a child and now I am 28 and after a long gap suddenly I am getting a pica craving for pencil needles or pencil lead. What are the health side effects for it and any idea how I can stop it?
     A. We're not an expert in this pica pencil needle eating habit topic.