Question
A two-year-old child, despite having grown 16 teeth, still has the habit of putting various objects into their mouth. Does this indicate a lack of certain nutrients? Especially since the child has a preference for paper and their hair is sparse and yellowish, this could be a sign of a deficiency in trace elements within the body.
Answer
A two-year-old still engaging in the behavior of putting objects in their mouth may be due to a deficiency of trace elements within the body, such as zinc deficiency leading to pica, manifesting as an interest in non-food items like paper or soil. It is recommended to visit a local hospital of at least the second level for trace element testing to determine if there is a zinc or iron deficiency. Wishing the child good health and also inquiring about how the child’s dinner intake has been going?