It is possible for a person to accidentally or unknowingly ingest poop from a human or from contact with animals or soil.

Nutrient poisoning often occurs as a event of a person eating or drinking something that has been contaminated with carrion.

Sometimes, feces transfers to a person if they change a diaper or care for someone and do not launder their easily afterward. Babies or toddlers can besides sometimes swallow their ain feces.

United states Poison Control Centers received effectually 6,000 calls regarding exposure to feces or urine in 2010.

This article looks at what could happen if a person ingests poop, and what they should do next.

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A person can have exposure to human or animate being carrion for a number of reasons.

A person who ingests man or fauna feces may be at risk of contracting a number of viruses, leaner, or parasites.

Parasites are tiny organisms that can live in the intestines of humans and animals. If a person ingests feces from someone who has a parasite, they themselves can contract the infection. Parasites such as Cryptosporidium and Giardia tin crusade symptoms including diarrhea and dehydration.

A doctor may prescribe medication to get rid of parasites.

Hepatitis A is a liver disease that can transmit to a person if they ingest contaminated feces.

Some people have no symptoms, while others may experience sick for several weeks. In rare cases, hepatitis A can crusade liver failure and decease — specially in older people and those with other liver weather condition.

Someone with norovirus or rotavirus tin also infect someone else through their carrion. These illnesses can cause vomiting, diarrhea, and fever.

Creature carrion

Carrion from animals tin contain bacteria that can cause infections in humans. People should be careful to wash their hands later on coming into contact with animals, their bedding and litter trays, and soil in the garden.

The sections below will hash out the potential results of coming into contact with certain types of brute carrion.

Dogs

Dog carrion tin can contain Campylobacter bacteria. This infection is the almost common cause of people being ill with diarrhea in the U.S. Information technology is usually acquired through contaminated raw poultry.

Most people recover from a Campylobacter infection within a week, although their stools may nonetheless exist infectious to other people for some weeks afterward. Long-term complications can include irritable bowel syndrome, arthritis, and Guillain-Barré syndrome.

Dog carrion can too infect a person with Escherichia coli, Salmonellosis, and Yersiniosis, as well as a number of different parasites, co-ordinate to the Canadian Public Health Association.

Cats

True cat feces can carry toxoplasmosis. Coming into contact with the feces in a litter tray or the soil outside can cause infections.

Healthy people do not usually experience any symptoms, but the infection tin be very serious in pregnant women.

Toxoplasmosis can also cause serious eye weather and affect people who have weakened immune systems.

Other animals

Salmonella tin can live in the digestive tract of many animals, including:

  • dogs
  • cats
  • rodents
  • reptiles
  • birds
  • horses
  • subcontract animals
  • hedgehogs
  • amphibians

The infection can spread to humans through their feces, contaminated bedding, or fur. However, people can avoid infection by making certain that they launder their hands after coming into contact with animals.

Salmonella tin can cause vomiting, diarrhea, fever, and abdominal cramps. Infants, older adults, and those with weakened allowed systems may develop more severe symptoms.

Raccoon feces can deport a parasite chosen Baylisascaris procyonis . Other animals, such as dogs and skunks, may besides carry it. Infection is rare in humans, but some cases can be serious.

That said, one 2016 study indicates that around seven% of wildlife rehabilitators have been exposed to the infection.

The infection can affect the brain, spinal cord, eyes, and other organs. Signs and symptoms may take a week or so to develop and can include:

  • nausea
  • tiredness
  • a loss of muscle control
  • incomprehension
  • a blackout

The Illinois Toxicant Centre say that if a child eats a small amount of feces and has no symptoms, information technology is minimally toxic.

All the same, they advise people to phone call their local poison center immediately on 1-800-222-1222 if the child:

  • eats more than a mouthful of feces
  • has symptoms
  • eats an unknown amount or an unknown substance

Any symptoms will usually appear within 30 minutes to 4 hours. They may include:

  • nausea
  • diarrhea
  • vomiting
  • a fever

These symptoms tin can be either mild or severe. If the kid has a fever or persistent vomiting or diarrhea, a person should telephone call their doctor immediately.

If the kid has swallowed less than a mouthful of feces and is not experiencing any symptoms, a person tin can requite them a few sips of water and notice for the symptoms listed in a higher place.

Animal feces tin can carry certain bacteria and viruses, so a person should let a medical practitioner know if they suspect that the kid has ingested animal feces.

If a person is unsure almost what they, or a child, has ingested, they should contact a medical professional immediately. They tin also phone call a poison center for data.

Anyone experiencing airsickness, diarrhea, fever, or other worrisome symptoms should seek medical attention for advice and handling.

Urine can incorporate bacteria and yeasts.

Some countries even employ "urine therapy" to treat certain medical conditions.

One 2010 report indicates that this may introduce antibody resistant bacteria to a person. For this reason, amidst others, the researchers advise against this practice — specially every bit the potential benefits are unconfirmed.

Sometimes, there can be medical benefits associated with carrion.

For example, health professionals can perform fecal transplantation in people who take recurrent Clostridioides difficile (C. difficile) colitis. C. difficile is an infection that causes diarrhea and inflammation in the colon. Information technology affects almost half a million people in the U.Southward. every year.

Fecal transplantation involves a health professional person delivering feces from a donor into a person with the infection. They exercise this past inserting a flexible tube, called a colonoscope, into the colon.

The donor will undergo screening before the procedure to make sure that they practise not have whatsoever infections themselves and that the feces is healthy.

This procedure is also known as "fecal bacteriotherapy." By introducing a healthier, more diverse range of good bacteria from the donor, doctors aim to reduce inflammation in the other person'due south colon.

Some enquiry indicates that fecal transplantation tin resolve upwardly to 90% of C. difficile cases. Scientists take likewise explored it for other conditions, with mixed results. It is currently merely available to some people with recurrent C. difficile infections.

Fecal transplantation is a way of treating certain infections. Futurity research might indicate that at that place are farther benefits for other atmospheric condition.

However, outside of a medical setting, ingesting carrion tin lead to illness and infections. This tin can cause mild symptoms, but some may exist astringent.

A person can endeavor to avoid infection by practicing practiced hygiene. This involves washing the hands afterwards coming into contact with other humans, animals, soil, and objects that may expose a person to carrion.

Cooking food properly, washing vegetables, and storing refrigerated food appropriately tin can all assistance prevent nutrient poisoning.

If a person thinks that a child has consumed carrion, they should contact their doctor or poison center.