12/30/2023 0 Comments Pica disorder facts![]() Children and adults may at times be stubborn, angry, controlling or manipulative. Poor articulation of words may be an ongoing problem into adulthood. Toddlers with Prader-Willi syndrome often reach milestones in physical movement - for example, sitting up or walking - later than other children do. Even those without significant intellectual disability have some learning disabilities. Mild to moderate intellectual disability, such as issues with thinking, reasoning and problem-solving, is a common feature of the disorder. Other endocrine problems may include underproduction of thyroid hormone (hypothyroidism) or central adrenal insufficiency, which prevents the body from responding appropriately during stress or infections. Underproduction of growth hormone can result in short adult height, low muscle mass and high body fat. Without treatment, women may not start menstruating until their 30s or may never menstruate, and men may not have much facial hair and their voices may never fully deepen. This results in underdeveloped sex organs, incomplete or delayed puberty, and in nearly all cases, infertility. A condition called hypogonadism occurs when sex organs (testes in men and ovaries in women) produce little or no sex hormones. Unusual food-seeking behaviors, such as hoarding food, or eating frozen food or even garbage, may develop. ![]() Constant hunger leads to eating often and consuming large portions. ![]() A classic sign of Prader-Willi syndrome is a constant craving for food, resulting in rapid weight gain, starting around age 2 years. Other features of Prader-Willi syndrome appear during early childhood and remain throughout life, requiring careful management. In females, the clitoris and labia may be small. The testicles may be small or not descended from the abdomen into the scrotum (cryptorchidism). ![]() Males may have a small penis and scrotum. A baby may seem unusually tired, respond poorly to stimulation, have a hard time waking up or have a weak cry. Poor sucking makes feeding difficult and can result in failure to thrive. Infants may have a poor sucking reflex due to decreased muscle tone. Children may be born with almond-shaped eyes, a narrowing of the head at the temples, a turned-down mouth and a thin upper lip. Babies may rest with their elbows and knees loosely extended instead of fixed, and they may feel floppy or like rag dolls when they're held. A primary sign during infancy is poor muscle tone (hypotonia). Signs and symptoms that may be present from birth include: Symptoms may slowly change over time from childhood to adulthood. Low birth weight, premature birth, mental and physical abnormalities among infants whose mothers practice pica during pregnancy.Signs and symptoms of Prader-Willi syndrome can vary among individuals.High blood pressure, high levels of sodium salts in the blood, and abnormal liver functions such as those resulting from consuming large quantities of baking powder.Infestations of parasites such as tapeworms resulting from consuming dirt or feces.Damage to teeth and gums from chewing abrasive materials such as twigs or metals. ![]() Nutritional deficiencies, such as the interference of soil with the absorption of iron, zinc, and potassium in the digestive system.Inadequate protein or energy-intake from consuming things like coffee grounds or oyster shells in place of real food.Obesity from consuming too many calories, such as eating laundry starch.Obstruction of the bowel or airways from consuming or choking on indigestible materials such as hair.Poisoning, such as lead poisoning from eating chips of old paint or soil that has old paint in it.If pica is a result of stress, treatment may involve talk therapy or family therapy and the development of coping skills, such as learning stress-reduction techniques or finding a safe substance to chew on instead. If pica is a result of inadequate supervision, treatment may involve educating the family and teaching children to distinguish between food and non-food items, and addressing housing and economic needs if possible. Doctors may treat the medical problems first, assess potential causes of the disorder such as nutrient deficiencies, and then develop a treatment plan that may involve changes to diet and nutrition as well as therapy. Treatment for pica varies based on what substance the person has consumed and how it has affected the body. Therefore, it’s important to monitor and treat the condition as early as possible. However, it may also lead to medical complications such as intestinal obstruction, bowel problems, weight loss, broken teeth, infections, or poisoning. ![]()
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