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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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Suggest Remedy For Problem In Growth And Development In 14 Year Old

I have a student who I ve know for 2 years. His weight and height have not changed at all. He is small for his age (14) probably 4 feet tall and he is very skinny. His mom says he has Pica. At school, we have to make sure he doesn t have more than one serving of breakfast which is about 400 calories on average. I ve never seen him eat anything nonedible. Can Pica cause his very small size? Because, to me, he looks malnurished. Also, I thought Pica was a disorder that requires behavioral intervention and routinely seeing a doctor.
Mon, 27 Jul 2015
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Psychologist,  's  Response
Dear
Welcome to HCM
We understand your concerns

I went through your details. As you already knew, Pica is characterized by an appetite for substances that are largely non-nutritive, such as paper, clay, metal, chalk, soil, glass, or sand. Pica is not only psychological but also physiological. Craving could be due to some nutritional deficiencies.

Before making a diagnosis of pica, the doctor will evaluate the presence of other disorders -- such as mental retardation, developmental disabilities, or obsessive-compulsive disorder -- as the cause of the odd eating behavior.

If you could not detect any PICA related behavior in the child, the possible cause could malnutrition or anemia. Please advise his parents to consult a physician.

If you require more of my help in this aspect, please use this URL. http://goo.gl/aYW2pR. Make sure that you include every minute details possible.

Hope this answers your query. Available for further clarifications.
Good luck.
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Suggest Remedy For Problem In Growth And Development In 14 Year Old

Dear Welcome to HCM We understand your concerns I went through your details. As you already knew, Pica is characterized by an appetite for substances that are largely non-nutritive, such as paper, clay, metal, chalk, soil, glass, or sand. Pica is not only psychological but also physiological. Craving could be due to some nutritional deficiencies. Before making a diagnosis of pica, the doctor will evaluate the presence of other disorders -- such as mental retardation, developmental disabilities, or obsessive-compulsive disorder -- as the cause of the odd eating behavior. If you could not detect any PICA related behavior in the child, the possible cause could malnutrition or anemia. Please advise his parents to consult a physician. If you require more of my help in this aspect, please use this URL. http://goo.gl/aYW2pR. Make sure that you include every minute details possible. Hope this answers your query. Available for further clarifications. Good luck.