Patient's question:
Sometimes children eat soil. Onset time and reasons: Sometimes they use their fingers to dig soil from the windowsill and stuff it into their mouths, eating it with great enjoyment. Treatment status: Laboratory tests showed calcium and zinc deficiency in their hair, and they have been supplementing ever since. Help needed: Why is this happening? Is it still a nutritional deficiency?Doctor's answer:
Hello, according to your description, the symptoms of your child are referred to as pica. The occurrence of pica in children may be caused by a lack of trace elements such as zinc and iron in the body, leading them to try to obtain nutrients from non-food sources, or by physical factors such as intestinal parasites. There are also cases where it is due to insufficient parental attention, where children do not receive food when hungry and accidentally eat other things, gradually forming a habit. Additionally, apart from possible psychological factors, some diseases cannot be ruled out. Clinically, it has been proven that many children with pica suffer from iron deficiency anemia. Therefore, you can take your child to a regular medical institution for a blood routine examination to rule out anemia symptoms. Moreover, if pica symptoms appear, as a parent, you also have the obligation to correct them promptly. Wishing you a speedy recovery and a happy life!