Children who eat dirt?

Answer 1

Each of us inadvertently eats a little dirt every day. This dirt can pose a health threat, especially near sites of industrial contamination, but dirt we eat intentionally poses a greater challenge. Intention may indicate something biologic that drives some of us (sometimes regularly, sometimes religiously, sometimes ritually) to eat dirt.

Eating dirt appears nearly universal among children under 2 years of age. When I asked my 2-year-old daughter why she ate dirt, she just stared at me, her eyes wide open, a thick moustache of loam limning her lips. She must have decided that either what I had asked was unfathomably abstract or her answer would be far beyond my comprehension.

How dangerous is eating dirt? My mother was pretty certain about this—damn dangerous. Soils contaminated by industrial or human pollutants pose considerable threat to anyone who eats them. Reports abound of lead poisoning and other toxicities in children eating contaminated soils. Similarly, we do not have to look farther than the last refugee camp or the slums of Calcutta or Tijuana or Basra to find the dangers of soils contaminated with untreated human waste. But the inherent biologic danger of soil is difficult to assess. Soil unaffected by the pressures of overpopulation, industry, and agriculture may be vastly different from the soil most of us encounter routinely.

Most infectious diseases acquired through eating dirt are associated with childhood geophagy, which routinely involves topsoils rather than deep clays. One recent report describes infection of two children at separate sites with raccoon roundworm (Baylisascaris procyonis ) (21). The infection resulted in severe neurologic damage to both children, and one died. The roundworm was ingested along with soil in both cases. Eating dirt can have dire consequences.

In the United States, the most common parasitic infection associated with geophagy is toxocariasis, most often caused by the worm Toxocara canis. Seroprevalence is 4% to 8% depending on the region, but incidence of antibodies to T. canis is as high as 16%–30% among blacks and Hispanics. The most common route of infection is ingestion of soil contaminated with dog or cat feces (22). Even though, humans are only paratenic hosts of T. canis, under some circumstances (though severe cases are rare), the worm can cause considerable damage (visceral larva migrans, ocular larva migrans, urticaria, pulmonary nodules, hepatic and lymphatic visceral larva migrans, arthralgias) (22–24). Toxocara eggs persist in soil for years. As with soils contaminated by human wastes, soil consumption itself does not cause toxocariasis. And studies of seroprevalence do not distinguish between infection and immunization.

Answer 2

That's fine, as long as it is 'clean dirt.' By this I mean there's no fecal matter or anything decaying in it (like from a compost pile). Actually, with all the anti-bacterial soaps we use, studies have show that our immune systems are actually getting weaker -- because we do not allow our bodies to build up a natural immunity to all those germs found in dirt. A little bit a dirt never killed anybody. So, the next time you see your kids playing in the dirt, go show them how to make a mud pie. (Your body will thank you for it.)

Answer 3

I heavily does no longer be apprehensive approximately %. in a 12 month previous new child. Mouthing each and every thing at that age is a superbly ordinary way that childrens detect their international. they're merely attempting to categorise the recent issues they're getting to be responsive to with all of their senses. they seem at each and every thing. They touch and scent what they are in a position to. They hear to issues. and that they style each and every thing which will slot of their mouths. interior the child years that's a superbly age perfect habit. That reported, dirt isn't an particularly perfect undertaking for a infant to be eating. dirt on that's own is frequently effective yet you on no account be responsive to what's jumbled in. in case you have animal feces you upload micro organism and the prospect for worms. in case you have insecticides or herbicides from backyard chemical compounds you upload poisons. you decide directly to applicable the dirt eating with a comfortable "no" and removal to a blanket for a on the same time as though it keeps occurring. it ought to take loads of repeats yet ultimately your new child will study that there are extra perfect (and extra effective tasting) issues to eat.

Answer 4

My sister ate dirt, chewed on sticks and rocks...and she contracted inactive tuberculosis from doing it...she can't give it to anyone, but she carries it, so eating dirt to me isn't a good thing for kids to do.

Answer 5

They will be fine. There body will just build up a natural tolerance to the bacteria in the dirt. Better for them to experiment when they are young then when they get older.

Answer 6

I think most children eat dirt when they are young. They should grow out of it however, I have heard that it's because of a mineral deficiency. I'm not sure if that is true or not. If you catch them doing it, you may want to tell them not to so they will grow out of it sooner. Your choice.

Answer 7

this is a legitimate medical condition called pika. many pregnant women have it and coincidentally so do a lot of children. it means they are lacking something of nutritional value in their diet. some children eat lim or salt or dirt or sometime other nasty things. it's normal but consult your pediatrician about your child's diet.

Answer 8

No big deal- but my girl ate a rock, which scared me. I told her that we don't eat rocks and when she was crying while pooping I told her the rock was coming out and that's why we don't eat rocks. Now she looks at rocks and says, "rocks- I no eat"

Answer 9

Are normal.

Answer 10

BLEH!