However, it’s also common during pregnancy and among people with schizophrenia, obsessive-compulsive disorder, autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and other developmental disorders. Pica disorder more commonly affects children younger than 6 rather than adults. Children who have pica may also display behavioral problems at home and school. People who have pica experience a compulsion, which means they crave the item they consume and can’t stop themselves from eating it.
Other non-food items often associated with pica include human waste, chalk, glue, cigarette butts or ashes, sand, dirt, hair, buttons, metal fragments, baby powder, charcoal, eggshells, pebbles, pet food, soap or ice. Pica occurs when someone eats items that aren’t meant to be consumed, most commonly clay, dirt or paint flakes. If you’ve heard of pica or wonder why you’ve experienced strange cravings for non-edible items, this comprehensive guide provides details about the causes of pica, pica symptoms, treatments and associated concerns. Characteristic symptoms of pica, a type of eating disorder, include the consumption of items that aren’t food - such as ice, paper or chalk. Pica can commonly occur with pregnancy, but the disorder may also arise outside this nine-month period.
