title: Pica and the elephant's ear.
abstract: This is a case report of an otherwise healthy 2-year-old boy with a history of pica, associated with iron deficiency anemia. This boy was referred to our department for a neurologic evaluation because of an acute episode of sialorrhea, difficulty in speaking, dysphagia, and repeated swallowing movements. An uncertain episode of a brief-duration still gaze was also reported. In addition, the history revealed that the child had earlier ingested a leaf from a poisonous houseplant called Colocasia esculenta, also known as "elephant's ear." The habit of pica subsided after treatment with iron supplements. A 9-month follow-up period was uneventful. Neurologic manifestations can accompany accidental intoxications of some non-nutrient substances. Thus, pica must be suspected in children with acute behavior alterations.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, University General Hospital, Heraklion, Crete, Greece. miheni@med.uoc.gr
authors.forename: Helen
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Mihailidou
authors.forename: Emmanouil
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Galanakis
authors.forename: Penelope
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Paspalaki
authors.forename: Pelagia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Borgia
authors.forename: Evangelia
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Mantzouranis
mesh_terms: D018798:Anemia, Iron-Deficiency / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy; D001037:Aphasia / Q000139:chemically induced; D002675:Child, Preschool; D031060:Colocasia; D003680:Deglutition Disorders / Q000139:chemically induced; D006801:Humans; D007501:Iron / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D010842:Pica / Q000150:complications*; D010939:Plant Poisoning / Q000150:complications*; D012798:Sialorrhea / Q000139:chemically induced
chemical_list: D007501:Iron