Children are curious by nature. They love to explore the world around them. As your kid grows, they learn to use and explore the world with their senses.
Infants starting from age 6-8 months tend to put everything in their mouth, whether edible or non-edible, just to know it better. It is called mouthing & is considered normal up to the age of two years. The most common example of this behaviour is seen in kids eating dirt or mud.
As a result, many parents struggle with this question: Why kids eat soil? If this habit of mud eating or other such non-edible things persists beyond two years, the baby may be suffering from a disorder called PICA.
IDP defines PICA as an eating disorder in which a baby eats non-edible substances like wood, clay, soap, paint, mud, earth, etc., which are not culturally or developmentally appropriate in kids more than two years old, and this habit persists for more than one month.
Causes of PICA/ Which children are more likely to have PICA?
You may ask why children eat soil or mud? Well, it doesn’t necessarily mean your child has PICA. However, if it does, the following are some of the causes of this disorder:
- Malnutrition
- Certain micronutrient deficiencies ( like zinc, calcium, and iron)
- Familial neglect/abuse.
- Developmental problems like autism and intellectual disabilities.
- Mental health problems like OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder) or schizophrenia.
- Poverty and a low-income family environment can trigger stress leading to PICA in kids.
How to confirm/diagnose if a kid has PICA?
- No confirmatory blood or radiological investigation.
- Diagnosis is based on the medical history of specific diagnostic inclusion criteria.
- Eating mud, or non-nutritive, non-food items for over a month.
- The eating must be abnormal for a child’s age and level of development. Therefore, a minimum age of 2 years is recommended for making a diagnosis.
- The eating habit should not be a culturally accepted practice that can be considered normal in a particular area (e.g., pregnant women in rural communities of Africa may normally eat mud)
- Be honest with the doctor and give appropriate history.
What can the child eat?
- Paint
- Mud
- Clay
- Hair
- Crayons
- Chalk
- faces(poop)
- Ice
Can PICA lead to any health problems?/Complications of PICA/ Is PICA worrisome?
Eating non-nutrition / non-edible things can lead to various health problems which your paediatrician can assess:
- Iron-deficiency Anemia.
- Lead poisoning.
- Constipation / Diarrhea.
- Intestinal worm infection.
- Intestinal blockage/eating hair can block the gut.
How can I prevent PICA in my kids? / Preventive measures for PICA
A lot of parents ask about the medicine for child eating soil. Before you seek outside remedies, it’s best to prevent PICA in kids. You must:
- Give a healthy nutritious diet to your children. Make mealtimes happy and enjoyable.
- Avoid negative stresses like parents’ quarrels and family members shouting at each other.
- Watch out for kid abuse Danger signs (School bully/home/maids)
- Keep an eye in infancy on what the baby wants.
How to treat PICA? How can I control PICA? Up to what time can I wait?
Though most babies grow out of this habit as they reach teenage, you must consult your paediatric doctor immediately if you suspect your baby has PICA. A Paediatrician can tell you the best treatment of child eating soil.
The doctor will assess the baby’s nutrition level (height and weight and its appropriateness for age), iron level, and any lead poisoning, zinc deficiency, or worm infestation features.
The doctor will also assess baby’s development and intellectual level.
Depending on the doctor’s assessment, your baby will be treated.
The doctor may prescribe mineral, iron, and calcium supplementation and deworm.
Your baby may also need behavioural or psychological therapy to overcome PICA and alleviate stress.
Ensure that you communicate effectively with your kid and be positive and encouraging to help him overcome this habit.