Geophagia leading to hypokalemic quadriparesis in a postpartum patient.
Pica is an eating disorder associated with ingestion of variety of non-food substances. A postpartum patient who presented with acute flaccid quadriparesis was detected to have severe hypokalemia. After extensive investigations for cause of hypokalemia, history of geophagia (clay-eating) was obtained. Approach to hypokalemia and health hazards of pica are discussed.
Trivedi
T H
TH
Medical Intensive Care Unit, Lokmanya Tilak Municipal Medical College and General Hospital, Sion, Mumbai 400 022.
Daga
G L
GL
Yeolekar
M E
ME
D000328:Adult; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007008:Hypokalemia / Q000209:etiology*; D010842:Pica / Q000150:complications*; D011782:Quadriplegia / Q000209:etiology*