Why is my sister eating slate pencils and raw rice?

Question

Hello doctor,

My sister eats slate pencils of two boxes a day and she also eats raw rice too much. So can you give some medicines which taste like a slate pencil?

Answer 1

Hi,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

First, child eating slate pencils and rice is an indication of severe anemia. Tell your parents to get tested for hemoglobin and start on the iron supplement which increases iron levels and blood levels and reduces craving for these rice and slate pencils.

Second, the iron supplement should be taken for three months, as the first one and a half month is needed for restoring reserves and the next one and a half month for restoring Hb levels.