Pagophagia: A case series

Abstract

Pica, in the form of ingestion of various non-food items like clay, chalks, etc., is commonly reported in Indian settings, but its other variant, pagophagia (ice eating), gets attention rarely. This case series is about three female patients who presented in psychiatry outpatient clinics with various mental health issues and ice eating habits. A diagnosis of iron deficiency anemia was common among all three cases, and they were managed with oral iron supplementation along with appropriate psychiatric treatments. Pagophagia is an important clinical presentation to be looked for in the changing Indian society.

Keywords

• eating disorders
• iron deficiency
• pagophagia
• pica