Clinical Profile of Pica in Childhood

Abstract

The various aspects of clinical profile in 200 children (18 months to 10 years) with pica have been highlighted.Therewasadefinitemalepredominanceandmajorityofchildrenbelongedto2–4year age group. Direct history of pica was given by 32 % mothers. Cough, pain abdomen, poor appetite, increasing pallor, abdominal fullness etc were other presenting features. Clay, sand, mud, plaster, uncookedrice,paper,clothesetcwerematerialusedforpica.Intestinalparasiteswerequitecommon.