Health Law

Pica: What Do You Know about This Cerebral Palsy Symptom?

Pica occurs in some kids as a cerebral palsy symptom and is characterized by the persistent eating of non-food substances such as dirt, stones, paint or paper. The condition is often a distressing one for parents and caregivers, who necessarily worry about the health effects of such behavior.

Children with developmental disabilities such as cerebral palsy or mental retardation are more likely to develop pica because of an inability to distinguish between food and non-food substances. It’s not preventable, but it may be treated – or at least managed – with behavior therapy.

Until the problem has been eliminated, parents should monitor their child and have testing done to check for complications such as lead or other kind of poisoning, intestinal or digestive issues, nutritional deficiencies and infection.

Read more about pica here or talk to your child’s primary care physician about possible treatment options.

 

Full post as published by Cerebral Palsy Law Blog on February 06, 2009 (boomark / email).