Pica is a condition in which a person craves substances that are not food, such as clay, dirt, ice, or flecks of old paint. Pica can have a physical cause, such as iron deficiency anemia or pregnancy, or it may be due to a psychological problem.
Treatment depends on the cause and may include psychological counseling or medications to reduce the craving.
| By | Healthwise Staff |
| Primary Medical Reviewer | Susan C. Kim, MD - Pediatrics |
| Specialist Medical Reviewer | Fred Volkmar, MD - Child and Adolescent Psychiatry |
| Last Revised | April 12, 2010 |
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