have you ever hear about the teen eats mud,soil,chalks,dirt?If yes please explain me why they are eating?what are their problems?Is that affect deadly?It is helpful or not helpful to our body?
2006-11-16 11:20:48 · 11 answers · asked by cool 1 in Health ➔ Mental Health
There is actually a disorder that causes people to eat things out of the ordinary. It is called Pica. Here is more about it:
Definition
Pica is a pattern of eating non-food materials (such as dirt or paper). This pattern should last at least 1 month to fit the diagnosis of pica.
Causes, incidence, and risk factors
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.
Symptoms
Pica is the eating of non-food substances. Clay, dirt, ice, sand, animal feces, paint, and hairballs are just a few examples of what children and adults with pica have been known to eat.
Signs and tests
There is no single test that confirms pica, but because pica is associated with abnormal nutrient 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.
Treatment
First, any nutritional deficiencies and other medical problems, such as lead toxicity, should be addressed.
Treatment emphasizes psychosocial, environmental, and family education approaches. Other successful treatments include mild aversion therapy (associating the pica behavior with bad consequences or punishment) followed by positive reinforcement for appropriate eating.
Medications may help reduce the abnormal eating behavior, if pica occurs as part of a developmental disorder such as mental retardation.
Expectations (prognosis)
Treatment success varies. In many cases, the disorder lasts several months, then disappears on its own. In some cases, it may continue into the teen years or adulthood, particularly when associated with developmental disorders.
2006-11-16 13:40:59 · answer #1 · answered by lalila0007 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
ok dirt has a vitamins in it beleave it are not that is good for the body my sister use to eat it and my mom took her to a doctor they said it was ok and that it was not going to hurt her and my aunt craved it when she was pregnant dirt .lol mud pies are normal we all did that well me and all the kids i know did that and im fine 28 and i have two kids soil is not to diffrent from dirt and with chalk well maybe its something in the chalk that they like not to sure with that hope this helps you
2006-11-16 11:51:23 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
There is a condition called Pica and I have heard of it but have no experience of it and haven't seen it firsthand even though I worked in psych for awhile and it is not all that rare. Keep in mind though, that if you know someone with these symptoms they should see a doctor for treatment and for diagnosis. No, it isn't helpful to the body eating these things and it can be harmful though how harmful depends on what is ingested, how much, what is in what is ingested. Please help this teen get in to see a [hysician to determine if it is a problem that warrants going to a psychiatrist for treatment.
I watched an ER program about real ER cases and there was this one woman who ate and swallowed all kinds of things She had some weird form of Munchausen's disease. She grabbed and swallowed toothbrushes and even batteries but she got her diagnosis because she swallowed dangerous objects so she would have to go to the hospital and get emergency surgery. Phew!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pica_(disorder)
2006-11-16 12:58:43 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes some eat coal. Pregnant woman eat coal too sometimes. I have heard of people eating chalk and dirt. It is usually due to a deficiency in their diet. If you are worried get to the docs.
2006-11-16 11:24:16 · answer #4 · answered by JAM 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes. I want to say its called Pica Its in my DSM-IV of Mental Illnesses but I can't find it at the moment. I think its a fetish behavior. Go to a mental health website - obviously this is a problem that needs to be addressed. Wish you well.
2006-11-16 11:30:58 · answer #5 · answered by paperorplastic 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
it's probably a throw back to our ancient ways........many animals will eat soils or minerals to get needed nutriments....especially salt as far as harmful - depends on any man made stuff that might be in there.......like pesticides...etc. it would be better to go to the local store for a bottle of vitamins
2006-11-16 11:29:56 · answer #6 · answered by ? 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
yep. i have heard because my friend does it. it disgusts me. my friend never told me why but i've heard somewhere that mud, dirt and soil help our bodies regenerate and mud and dirt help clean out waste that our body doesnt need. thats only what i heard.
2006-11-16 11:25:50 · answer #7 · answered by Shmily P 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
According to Dr. Phil, it happens because our body is craving that particular mineral or nutrient. There's a big debate to this...but I tend to agree with him.
2006-11-16 11:40:36 · answer #8 · answered by tikizgirl 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I'm lost you need to learn to write to a point where it makes sense.
2006-11-16 12:41:55 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
it's about some sort of lack of a certain vitamin. I believe it is more common in certain other cultures.
2006-11-16 11:30:37 · answer #10 · answered by KC 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋