title: Craving for ice and iron-deficiency anemia: a case series from Oman.
abstract: Pagophagia, or the practice of consuming ice, is a particular expression of the more general phenomenon of pica. Pagophagia is a complex behavioral phenomenon arising from the interplay of biochemical, hematological, psychological, and cultural factors. This compulsive dietary aberration is observed in many children and pregnant women worldwide. The authors report 3 cases of severe iron deficiency anemia with a serum ferritin level of 2-3 ng/mL, in which the patients were consuming 2 trays and many bags of ice per day. Following treatment with iron therapy, pagophagia spontaneously resolved within 2 weeks. It is a commonly missed problem. Pediatricians should be alert to this phenomena and its association with iron-deficiency anemia.
authors.affiliation: Department of Family and Community Medicine, College of Medicine, Sultan Qaboos University, Alkodh, Oman.
authors.forename: Youssef M
authors.initials: YM
authors.lastname: Osman
authors.forename: Yasser A
authors.initials: YA
authors.lastname: Wali
authors.forename: Osman M
authors.initials: OM
authors.lastname: Osman
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D018798:Anemia, Iron-Deficiency / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy; D001066:Appetite; D002648:Child; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007053:Ice; D007501:Iron / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D010842:Pica / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology*
chemical_list: D007053:Ice; D007501:Iron