title: [Aneamia secondary to geophagia in a rich country? A case report].
abstract: Geophagia, eating of earth, is a relative frequent practice in several countries and especially in the African and South American mainlands. In some cases, migrant people continue this practice in the host country. Geophagia has some positive effects, presumed or real, and several harmful effects with significant health impacts. We relate the history of young patient of Cameroonian origin who consults for chonic fatigue, abdominal pain and menorrhagia. Laboratory tests show a severe aneamia with iron deficiency.
authors.affiliation: PMU, 1011 Lausanne. seyrane.yersin@chuv.ch
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yersin
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Favrat
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bodenmann
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cheseaux
mesh_terms: D015746:Abdominal Pain / Q000209:etiology; D000328:Adult; D018798:Anemia, Iron-Deficiency / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology*; D002163:Cameroon; D005221:Fatigue / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D005290:Ferric Compounds / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006397:Hematinics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D008595:Menorrhagia / Q000209:etiology; D010842:Pica / Q000150:complications*; D011203:Poverty; D012307:Risk Factors; D013557:Switzerland; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D005290:Ferric Compounds; D006397:Hematinics