Pica is an abnormal appetite for soil, flour, chalk, starch or
other non-foods. The condition's name comes from the Latin word for
the magpie, a bird which is reputed to eat almost anything. Pica is
seen in all ages, particularly in pregnant women and small
children, especially among children who are developmentally
disabled where it is the most common eating disorder. It is much
more common in developing countries and rural areas than elsewhere.
In extreme forms, pica is regarded as a medical disorder.
Pregnant women have been known to develop strong cravings for
gritty substances like soil or flour. Some theorize that these
women may be craving trace minerals lacking in their system, but
there have been no major studies on this because of strong aversion
to the subject as "gross" and "disgusting".
Warning: Pica in children, while common, can be dangerous. Children
eating painted plaster containing lead may suffer brain damage from
lead poisoning. There is a similar risk from eating dirt near roads
that existed prior to the phaseout of tetra-ethyl lead in gasoline.
In addition to poisoning, there is also a much greater risk of
gastro-intestinal obstruction or tearing in the stomach. This is
also true in animals