MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia: Dirt ingestion

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Dirt ingestion

Contents of this page:
Definition Poisonous Ingredient Where Found Symptoms Home Treatment	Before Calling Emergency Poison Control, or a local emergency number What to expect at the emergency room Expectations (prognosis)

Definition

Poisoning caused by ingestion of dirt.

Poisonous Ingredient

No particular poisonous ingredients unless the dirt contains contaminants such as insecticides, herbicides, fertilizers, and waste disposal.

Where Found

dirt

Symptoms

gastrointestinal
- may cause some intestinal obstruction resulting in abdominal pain

Home Treatment

None. Call Poison Control for further guidance.

Before Calling Emergency

Determine the following information:

the patient's age, weight, and condition
the time it was swallowed
the amount swallowed

Poison Control, or a local emergency number

They will instruct you if it is necessary to take the patient to the hospital. See Poison Control centers for telephone numbers and addresses. Bring a sample with you to the emergency room.

What to expect at the emergency room

Treat the symptoms.

Note: The patient may not need to visit an emergency room.

Expectations (prognosis)

Recovery is very likely unless some contaminant is present that may complicate outcome.

Update Date: 2/23/2004

Updated by: Cherlin Johnson, M.D., Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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