Consuming feces: Impacts, implications in children, and further details
Ingesting human or animal feces can expose individuals to a wide range of serious gastrointestinal and systemic diseases, as a result of the various pathogens transmitted via the fecal-oral route. This article provides an overview of the potential infections and health risks associated with such ingestion.
Protozoal infections, such as Giardiasis, Amebiasis, Cryptosporidiosis, and balantidiasis, can be contracted through the consumption of contaminated food, water, or soil. These infections can lead to diarrhea, dehydration, and other gastrointestinal symptoms.
Bacterial infections, including Salmonellosis, Cholera, Typhoid fever, Shigellosis, Campylobacteriosis, and Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC), can also be transmitted via the fecal-oral route. These infections can cause a variety of symptoms, from mild gastrointestinal illness to more severe conditions like dysentery.
Viral infections, such as Hepatitis A and Hepatitis E, as well as Rotavirus, Norovirus, and Adenovirus, can be transmitted through fecal contamination of food or water. These viruses can lead to gastrointestinal infections and, in the case of Hepatitis, liver disease.
Helminthic infections, such as Ascaris, Hookworm, and Strongyloidiasis, are contracted by ingesting parasite eggs or larvae present in fecally contaminated soil, food, or water. These infections can lead to a range of symptoms, from mild gastrointestinal issues to more severe conditions like anaemia and malnutrition.
Other zoonotic and environmental infections, such as Leptospirosis and Hantavirus infections, can be transmitted through contact with urine or feces-contaminated water or soil from infected animals. These infections can cause serious health problems, including respiratory disease and kidney damage.
It is important to note that dog feces can contain Campylobacter bacteria, Escherichia coli, Salmonellosis, Yersiniosis, and various parasites. Raccoon feces can carry a parasite called Baylisascaris procyonis, which can be serious in humans.
Ingesting feces can lead to a range of symptoms, including nausea, tiredness, loss of muscle control, blindness, and coma. These symptoms may take from 30 minutes to 4 hours to develop. The infection caused by ingesting feces can affect the brain, spinal cord, eyes, and other organs.
Fecal transplantation is a medical procedure used to treat certain infections, such as recurrent Clostridioides difficile (C. difficile) colitis. This procedure involves a health professional delivering feces from a donor into a person with the infection. Fecal transplantation can resolve up to 90% of C. difficile cases. However, it is currently only available to some people with recurrent C. difficile infections.
It is crucial to maintain good sanitation, proper hygiene, and safe handling of food and water to prevent these infections. If a person is unsure about what they or a child has ingested, they should contact a medical professional immediately. If a child eats more than a mouthful of feces or has symptoms, call the local poison center immediately at 1-800-222-1222.
Ingesting urine may introduce antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Animal feces can carry certain bacteria and viruses, so if a child has ingested animal feces, inform a medical practitioner. Hepatitis A is a liver disease that can transmit through ingestion of contaminated feces.
In conclusion, ingesting human or animal feces can expose a person to a broad spectrum of serious gastrointestinal and systemic diseases caused by various pathogens transmitted via the fecal-oral route. It is essential to prioritize good hygiene and sanitation practices to prevent these infections. If ingestion occurs, prompt medical attention is crucial.
- Protozoan infections like Giardiasis, Amebiasis, Cryptosporidiosis, and balantidiasis can be contracted through the consumption of contaminated food, water, or soil, leading to diarrhea, dehydration, and other gastrointestinal symptoms.
- Bacterial infections such as Salmonellosis, Cholera, Typhoid fever, Shigellosis, Campylobacteriosis, and Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) can also be transmitted via the fecal-oral route, causing a variety of symptoms from mild gastrointestinal illness to more severe conditions like dysentery.
- Viral infections, including Hepatitis A and Hepatitis E, as well as Rotavirus, Norovirus, and Adenovirus, can be transmitted through fecal contamination of food or water, leading to gastrointestinal infections and liver disease in the case of Hepatitis.
- Helminthic infections like Ascaris, Hookworm, and Strongyloidiasis are contracted by ingesting parasite eggs or larvae present in fecally contaminated soil, food, or water, leading to a range of symptoms from mild gastrointestinal issues to more severe conditions like anaemia and malnutrition.
- Other zoonotic and environmental infections, such as Leptospirosis and Hantavirus infections, can be transmitted through contact with urine or feces-contaminated water or soil from infected animals, causing serious health problems like respiratory disease and kidney damage.
- Dog feces can contain Campylobacter bacteria, Escherichia coli, Salmonellosis, Yersiniosis, and various parasites, while raccoon feces can carry a parasite called Baylisascaris procyonis, which can be serious in humans.
- Ingesting feces can lead to a range of symptoms including nausea, tiredness, loss of muscle control, blindness, and coma, with these symptoms potentially affecting the brain, spinal cord, eyes, and other organs.
- Fecal transplantation is a medical procedure used to treat certain infections, such as recurrent Clostridioides difficile (C. difficile) colitis, involving a health professional delivering feces from a donor into a person with the infection.
- It is crucial to maintain good sanitation, proper hygiene, and safe handling of food and water to prevent these infections, particularly for children who, if they eat more than a mouthful of feces or have symptoms, should call the local poison center immediately at 1-800-222-1222.
- Ingesting urine may introduce antibiotic-resistant bacteria, and animal feces can carry certain bacteria and viruses, making it important to inform a medical practitioner if a child has ingested animal feces.
- Hepatitis A is a liver disease that can be transmitted through ingestion of contaminated feces.
- Science and the health-and-wellness industry are committed to making advancements in understanding these pathogens and developing preventive measures, as well as providing treatments and early detection methods for these diseases.
- Incorporating fitness-and-exercise routines and maintaining mental-health, along with good hygiene and sanitation practices, contribute to overall health and wellness, minimizing the risk of these infections.
