Hospitalizations for dirt eating nearly double in past decade Many cases linked to autism, although

[nadinbrzezinski]

The number of people hospitalized with pica, the disorder in which people eat non-edible substances including dirt and chalk, has nearly doubled within a decade, a new study finds.

Between 1999 and 2009, yearly hospitalizations in the United States for this disorder increased 93 percent, from 964 to 1,862, said the report from the government's Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.

Pica is most commonly found in children, pregnant women and people with autism and other developmental disabilities. In many cases, the disorder lasts several months and then disappears without treatment, according to the National Institutes of Health.


Little is known about what causes the disorder, and researchers said they can only speculate as to why pica hospitalizations have jumped. But it may be due, at least in part, to the recent rise in the number of diagnosed autism cases.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/44550134/ns/health-behavior/

Hmm we used to see it in at risk populations... no, could not be that.. nope... will have something to say later at usual place.

[nadinbrzezinski]

1. comment

http://posterous.com/#spaces/nadinbrzezinski/posts/70687388

[w8liftinglady]

2. my friend and I both developed pica due to anemia

we ate ice non-stop at work- mine resolved after 8 weeks of iron infusions, her's after her last dose of chemo.

it sucks, big time.we saw a LOT of pica when I cared for mentally challenged kids...they usually had some coexisting nutritional deficiency.

[nadinbrzezinski]

3. BIg dot to this

coexisting nutritional deficiency.



Full commentary at my site

[Liberal_in_LA]

9. Glad you got better. omg.

[Obamanaut]

4. Interesting article re eating dirt, geophagy, at this link -> It is more common than

one might think. http://www.natural-healing-for-all.com/eating_dirt.html

[malaise]

5. Studies have been done here

Pica leads to several other medical problems.
The levels of hunger on this planet continue to increase.

[nadinbrzezinski]

6. Yup...

:thumbsup:

[pipi_k]

7. I saw some episodes of a show where people had strange obsessions....

There was a lady who ate chalk...

Another who ate toilet paper...

One who only ate french fries...

And one who ate the foam in pillows/cushions


I tried eating dirt one time but didn't care for it much.

Although the library paste we had in grammar school was quite tasty.

[nadinbrzezinski]

8. PICA... is strange

but dirt is usually related to dietary deficiencies, bad ones.

[pipi_k]

10. If people are given

multivitamins with minerals, do they stop eating dirt?

Dirt being full of minerals and all...seems to me that's what they would be lacking...

[nadinbrzezinski]

11. That is one of the treatments yes

It is not that hard to treat, when it is food related...