Pagophagia: a novel form of pica

ABSTRACT

This case report describes a 37 year old female with iron deficiency anemia due to heavy menstrual bleeding. She had a habit of compulsive ice eating called pagophagia, which is a mysterious form of pica. Pagophagia has been found to be associated with iron deficiency and resolves after a few weeks of iron therapy, well before the anemia is corrected. Our patient too responded to intravenous and oral iron and within a few weeks she gave up her ice eating habit. We discuss this case to introduce this interesting form of pica in the Pakistani setting: