Brief Answer:
PICA

Detailed Answer:
Hello thanks for asking from Health Care Magic

She is 20 years old and have habit of eating raw rice. When she doesn't eat rice she gets headache.

Eating raw rice on compulsive basis is part of Pica. This is the part of amylophagia in which individual eats starch containing items on compulsive basis. In most of females with PICA anaemia is one of common occurrence. I would advise you to get her haemoglobin levels checked to rule out anaemia. Secondly get her whole blood work up done including Vitamin B12 levels. Low iron and vitamin B12 are common occurrence in Pica. Start giving iron and vitamin B12 supplements to improve the condition.

Second reason for such behaviour is underlying anxiety which cause individuals to eat raw food items. The symptoms of headache when she doesn't eat raw rice are most likely due to underlying anxiety. Treating anxiety result in improvement of symptoms. Treatment consists of psychological behavioural management and medicines.

Psychological methods includes aversive techniques. In aversion when ever undesired behaviour (eating raw foods) occur a painful stimulus is given to patient. With time individuals develop aversion and repulsion to undesired stimulus. With time the behaviour decreases.

Self stopping techniques, positive reinforcement also help in improving behaviour. Relaxation exercises, yoga, progressive muscle relaxation etc also help to reduce the behaviour. Consult a psychologist for help.

Medicines like SSRIs especially fluoxetine, paroxetine etc are very useful in controlling the undesired behaviour. These medicines are free of serious side effects and and help to reduce the anxiety underlying abnormal behaviour. Consult a psychiatrist for treatment and prescription.

Thanks, hope this helps you. Ask again if you have more doubts regarding her condition and treatment.

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Brief Answer:
No risk

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for asking again

No eating raw rice will not affect pregnancy. This should not have any effect on her pregnancy.

Thanks

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Brief Answer:
Psychosocial methods.

Detailed Answer:
Hello again

First of all get her blood levels checked. If she have iron deficiency anaemia (low haemoglobin) then start giving her iron folic acid tablets. This will help to correct her habit.

Along with this first of all motivate her to stop using raw rice. Try to make her accept that what she is doing is wrong. Once she start accepting the wrong habit then ask her to stop by controlling her thoughts. Every time she does abnormal behaviour ask her to taste some bitter substance or chilly powder, lemon, acid etc. Pair this thing every time she show abnormal behaviour. With time she will learn that raw rice is associated with painful stimulus and her abnormal behaviour will decrease. The method needs a lot of patience and persistence. Consult a psychologist to learn that method.

If this method fails then you have to visit a psychiatrist for medicines. I have already mentioned the medicines which can prove useful in her condition.

Thanks, hope this helps you.

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