Patient's question:
The child is now three years old. A year ago, they started to like eating soil and stones, and now the situation has become a bit serious. They are very eager to eat those things. The hospital checked and found a lack of trace elements, but the child refuses to take the prescribed medication. What should I do now?Previous treatment history and effectiveness:
The child has been treated before, but it was ineffective.
Help needed:
Now the child is eating a lot, and I want to know how to treat this.
Doctor's answer:
The child has pica, which is an eating disorder characterized by a persistent craving to bite and consume non-nutritive substances such as soil, dirt, stones, rubber bands, and paper. It can lead to complications like lead poisoning, intestinal obstruction, and parasitic infections. It is often accompanied by decreased appetite and picky eating. Pica is more commonly observed in infants and young children aged 1.5 to 6 years, with boys being more affected than girls. If pica behavior is detected, it is crucial to seek medical attention promptly and follow the doctor's recommendations for treatment. It is essential to avoid any prejudice, discrimination, or hatred towards the child.