STUDY - Technical - New Dacian's Medicine
Pica
(Classical / Allopathic Medicine)
Pica
refers to the craving and ingestion of normally inedible
substances, such as plaster, charcoal, clay, wool, ashes,
paint, or dirt. In children, the most commonly affected
group, pica typically results from nutritional
deficiencies. However, in adults, pica may reflect a
psychological disturbance. Depending on the substance
eaten, pica can lead to poisoning and GI disorders.
HISTORY:
Ask the patient what substances he has been eating. If the patient has eaten a toxic substance (such as lead), obtain a serum lead level.
If the patient is a child, ask the parents to describe his eating habits and nutritional history. Find out when the patient first displayed pica and if he always craves the same substance.
Ask the patient if he has felt listless or irritable.
If the patient is female, ask her if she may be pregnant.
Ask the patient what substances he has been eating. If the patient has eaten a toxic substance (such as lead), obtain a serum lead level.
If the patient is a child, ask the parents to describe his eating habits and nutritional history. Find out when the patient first displayed pica and if he always craves the same substance.
Ask the patient if he has felt listless or irritable.
If the patient is female, ask her if she may be pregnant.
PHYSICAL
ASSESSMENT:
Check the patient's vital signs, especially noting bradycardia, tachycardia, or hypotension.
Inspect the abdomen for visible peristaltic waves or other abnormalities.
Observe the patient's hair, skin, and mucous membranes for changes, such as dryness or pallor.
Check the patient's vital signs, especially noting bradycardia, tachycardia, or hypotension.
Inspect the abdomen for visible peristaltic waves or other abnormalities.
Observe the patient's hair, skin, and mucous membranes for changes, such as dryness or pallor.
SPECIAL
CONSIDERATIONS:
Pica is an accepted practice in some cultures, based on presumed nutritional or therapeutic properties or on religious or superstitious beliefs.
Pica is an accepted practice in some cultures, based on presumed nutritional or therapeutic properties or on religious or superstitious beliefs.
PEDIATRIC
POINTERS:
Many older homes contain lead-based paints. Children who live in older homes may be at risk for lead poisoning from eating chipped paint or even from sucking their fingers if the lead paint has infiltrated house dust.
Inner-city children and children living in older homes should be monitored for serum lead levels.
Many older homes contain lead-based paints. Children who live in older homes may be at risk for lead poisoning from eating chipped paint or even from sucking their fingers if the lead paint has infiltrated house dust.
Inner-city children and children living in older homes should be monitored for serum lead levels.
PATIENT
COUNSELING:
Teach the patient about lead poisoning, and if he lives in an older home, advise him to investigate whether the paint is lead-based.
Teach the patient about lead poisoning, and if he lives in an older home, advise him to investigate whether the paint is lead-based.
Bibliography:
1. Rapid Assessment, A
Flowchart Guide to Evaluating Signs & Symptoms, Lippincott
Williams & Wilkins, 2004.
2. Professional Guide to
Signs and symptoms, Edition V, Lippincott
Williams & Wilkins, 2007.
3. Guide to common symptoms,
Edition V, McGraw - Hill, 2002.