PICA

Child may develop habit of eating non edible subtances like wall plaster clay paint earth. Child wth pica have history of neonatal insult.They r slow in motor n mental development n show neurologic defect n deviant behaviour.Tasting or mouthing of strange object is normal in infant n child upto 2 yrs.Persistance of this habit beyond 2 yrs may b manifestation of parenteral neglect poor supervision or lack of affection.Common in lower socioeconomic strata n malnorished n mentaly subnormal child.These child prone 2 lead poisioning n complaint of chronic abdo pain n pallor.No tretment