Pica for foam rubber in patients with sickle cell disease

We report three cases of pica for foam rubber among sickle cell disease patients. All three were African-American males, and at the times of initial presentation for the pica, two of them were 11 years of age and one was 15 years of age. In all cases, the pica reportedly had been occurring for at least several years. The foam rubber was most often obtained from furniture and mattresses, as well as from ironing-board pads, stereo speakers, and padded hair rollers. Reports from other researchers also suggest that this is not an uncommon type of pica. We discuss this problem from biologic, psychologic, and social perspectives.