Mental Health Conditions
Pica of infancy and childhood
Moderate
ICD-10: F98 · NIH NLM
हिंदी: मिट्टी खाना · தமிழ்: உணவல்லாதவை உண்ணுதல் · ಕನ್ನಡ: ಆಹಾರೇತರ ವಸ್ತುಗಳನ್ನು ತಿನ್ನುವುದು · తెలుగు: ఆహారం కాని వస్తువులు తినడం · বাংলা: অখাদ্য খাওয়া · मराठी: माती खाणे · ગુજરાતી: માટી ખાવી
About this condition
Pica in children is an eating disorder where young kids repeatedly eat non-food items like dirt, clay, chalk, paper, or hair for at least one month. It may be related to nutritional deficiencies like iron or zinc, developmental delays, or learned behaviors. This can lead to poisoning, intestinal blockages, or infections and needs proper medical and behavioral attention.
Common symptoms
eating non-food items
chewing dirt or soil
eating paper or chalk
swallowing hair
consuming clay
craving inedible substances
When to see a doctor: within 1-2 weeks for evaluation and nutritional assessment
This condition in Indian languages
| Hindi (हिंदी) | मिट्टी खाना · अखाद्य वस्तु खाना · बच्चों में मिट्टी खाने की आदत · चॉक खाना |
| Tamil (தமிழ்) | உணவல்லாதவை உண்ணுதல் · மண் சாப்பிடுதல் · சுண்ணாம்பு சாப்பிடுதல் · பைக்கா நோய் |
| Kannada (ಕನ್ನಡ) | ಆಹಾರೇತರ ವಸ್ತುಗಳನ್ನು ತಿನ್ನುವುದು · ಮಣ್ಣು ತಿನ್ನುವುದು · ಸುಣ್ಣ ತಿನ್ನುವುದು · ಪೈಕಾ ರೋಗ |
| Telugu (తెలుగు) | ఆహారం కాని వస్తువులు తినడం · మట్టి తినడం · సుద్ద తినడం · పైకా వ్యాధి |
| Bengali (বাংলা) | অখাদ্য খাওয়া · মাটি খাওয়া · চক খাওয়া · পাইকা রোগ |
| Marathi (मराठी) | माती खाणे · अखाद्य वस्तू खाणे · खडू खाणे · पायका विकार |
| Gujarati (ગુજરાતી) | માટી ખાવી · અખાદ્ય વસ્તુ ખાવી · ચોક ખાવી · પાયકા રોગ |
Frequently asked questions
What are the symptoms of Pica of infancy and childhood?
eating non-food items, chewing dirt or soil, eating paper or chalk, swallowing hair, consuming clay, craving inedible substances.
When should I see a doctor?
within 1-2 weeks for evaluation and nutritional assessment
Is Pica of infancy and childhood common in India?
This condition is seen across India.
How serious is Pica of infancy and childhood?
Severity is classified as Moderate. within 1-2 weeks for evaluation and nutritional assessment.
Related conditions
Important: This information is for general awareness only and is
not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always consult a qualified doctor.
In an emergency, call 112.
Data sourced from NIH NLM
and MOHFW India.
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