Sponge eating: a strange type of pica

Pica refers to the compulsive ingestion of nonnutritive substances. It is more common in tropical countries where cultural and dietary factors play a role. Soil (geophagia), ice (pagophagia), and hair (trichophagia) are the most prevalent substances ingested. We describe the clinical case of a 22-year-old patient diagnosed with sickle cell disease (SCD) with pica for sponge. The treatment with fluvoxamine, amitriptyline and risperidone resulted in a partial response. This case is an example that highlights the difficulties treating of this entity.