title: Pica.
abstract: Pica is the compulsive eating of non-food substances over a sustained period of time. It remains an intriguing, little understood occurrence, with a potential for both positive and negative outcomes. In this review information is given on the history of the phenomenon, its prevalence among children and women, and its relation to iron and zinc deficiency. A number of examples of pica practice are reported from Africa.
authors.affiliation: Department of Tropical Diseases, School of Pathology, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa.
authors.forename: A R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Walker
authors.forename: B F
authors.initials: BF
authors.lastname: Walker
authors.forename: F I
authors.initials: FI
authors.lastname: Sookaria
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Cannan
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000349:Africa / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003677:Deficiency Diseases / Q000150:complications; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D000090463:Iron Deficiencies; D008297:Male; D010842:Pica / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D011247:Pregnancy; D015995:Prevalence; D015032:Zinc / Q000172:deficiency
chemical_list: D015032:Zinc