My sister
Eats chalks and cements why this happens how can it be cured?
She is eating it from last 6years can it be harmful?

Question

Hello Ms. Lybrate-user.
The condition that you are describing is called pica. It is quite common in women in reproductive age group. Since they loose blood during periods and are not able to make up for it, gthe body signals them to eat these things like chalk, mud, cement, etc. It signals the body's deficiency of blood. You can do a blood test (cbp) and see how much her hemoglobin is- if it is less some iron tablets can be started. Also you can give her some deworming medicine- to get rid of worms in stools (quite common in indian patients). Before all this it is advisable to get a blood test done called cbp- complete blood picture.

Evelyn Supriya James · Accepted Answer

Hello Ms. Lybrate-user.
The condition that you are describing is called pica. It is quite common in women in reproductive age group. Since they loose blood during periods and are not able to make up for it, gthe body signals them to eat these things like chalk, mud, cement, etc. It signals the body's deficiency of blood. You can do a blood test (cbp) and see how much her hemoglobin is- if it is less some iron tablets can be started. Also you can give her some deworming medicine- to get rid of worms in stools (quite common in indian patients). Before all this it is advisable to get a blood test done called cbp- complete blood picture.

My sister Eats chalks and cements why this happens how can it be cured? She is eating it from last 6years can it be harmful?