geophagia

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Related to geophagia: pica

geophagia

[je″o-fa´jah]

the habit of eating clay or earth, a form of pica.

ge·o·pha·gi·a

, geophagismgeophagy (jē'ō-fā'jē-ă, jē-of'ă-jizm, -of'ă-jē),

The practice of eating dirt or clay.

Synonym(s): dirt-eating

[geo- + G. phagō, to eat]

Farlex Partner Medical Dictionary © Farlex 2012

The consumption of dirt—e.g., mud or clay—a former practice in many cultures, regionally extant in the southern US

ge·o·pha·gi·a

, geophagism , geophagy (jē'ŏ-fā'jē-ă, jē-of'ă-jizm, -of'ă-jē)

The practice of eating dirt or clay.
Synonym(s): dirt-eating.

[geo- + G. phagō, to eat]

Medical Dictionary for the Health Professions and Nursing © Farlex 2012

Geophagia

The compulsive eating of earthy substances, including sand, soil, and clay.

Mentioned in: Pica

ge·o·pha·gi·a

, geophagism , geophagy (jē'ŏ-fā'jē-ă, jē-of'ă-jizm, -of'ă-jē)

Eating dirt or clay.

[geo- + G. phagō, to eat]

Medical Dictionary for the Dental Professions © Farlex 2012

Mentioned in ?

References in periodicals archive ?

We identified several pathways for potential environmental uranium exposure in our study population, including occupation as mine workers, geophagia, drinking of nonbottled water and consumption of vegetables and animal products grown in the vicinity of mine tailings, which could be related to increased uranium exposure.

Prospective case-series analysis of haematological malignancies in goldmining areas in South Africa

General pica and geophagia prevalence of 48% and 28%, respectively, have been reported in Ghana among women of reproductive age [1,10].

Geophagia clay soil as a source of mineral nutrients and toxicants

Young children are at particular risk for infection if they place fecally contaminated objects or fingers into their mouths or have syndromes such as pica or geophagia. Once ingested, larvae migrate through the brain (neural larva migrans), eye (ocular larva migrans), and other organs (visceral larva migrans) (1).

Raccoon roundworm infection associated with central nervous system disease and ocular disease--six states, 2013-2015

Small children are particularly vulnerable through accidental geophagia. Public health concerns arise where raccoon and human populations overlap.

Baylisascaris procyonis parasites in raccoons, Costa Rica, 2014

The definition can be broadened to encompass any behavior manifested by the eating of a non-food that is unusual in kind or quantity (2) including ice (pagophagia), hair, plaster, clay or dirt (geophagia), laundry and corn starch (amylophagia), ashes, and cigarette butts.

A rare disorder--pica: case report

[1] Poor personal hygiene, consumption of raw vegetables grown in contaminated kitchen gardens, geophagia or soil eating is a specific type of pica that increases the risk of toxocariasis, especially in children living in homes with puppies [2].

An interesting case of Visceral Larva Migrans (VLM)

1968 Geophagia in Man: Its Nature and Nutritional Effects, American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 21(12), 1384-93.

Geophagy: an assessment of implications for the development of Australian Indigenous plant processing technologies

Infections in humans typically occur in children who have the disorders pica or geophagia and ingest B.

Zoonotic Baylisascaris procyonis roundworms in raccoons, China

Geophagia (intentional ingestion of soil/sand, clay blocks and mud) is defined as a form of pica, and has been known for centuries.111 A variety of reasons for geophagia have been postulated, including religious, cultural, nutritional and medicinal practices, famine, perceived enhancement of personal appearance, pregnancy-related cravings, and enjoyment of the taste, texture or smell of the substance consumed.

A cross-sectional analytical study of geophagia practices and blood metal concentrations in pregnant women in Johannesburg, South Africa

Young children are at particular risk for infection as a result of behaviors such as pica and geophagia and placing potentially contaminated fingers and other objects (e.g., toys) into their mouths.

Raccoon roundworm encephalitis -- Chicago, Illinois, and Los Angeles, California, 2000

procyonis NLM in an adult was in a developmentally disabled 21-yearold adult known to exhibit geophagia and pica (4).