mental health disorders
Pica
Diagnosis of Pica
A doctor's evaluation Tests to check for possible complications Doctors usually diagnose pica by determining what the person has been eating. Pica is diagnosed when people persistently eat things that are not food for 1 month or longer. The disorder is not diagnosed in children under 2 years old because at that age, eating such materials is not considered abnormal. It is also not diagnosed when eating such materials is part of the person's culture. If doctors suspect the disorder, they evaluate Evaluation of Nutritional Status to check for weight loss and nutritional deficiencies. Sometimes pica is diagnosed when a person has symptoms of a blockage in the digestive tract (such as severe cramping or constipation) or lead poisoning and is taken to the emergency department or to see a doctor. X-rays may be taken to check for blockages in the digestive tract. Doctors may do blood tests to check for lead poisoning or stool tests to check for a parasitic infection. 