How dangerous is eating dirt?
Continuous eating of non-food items can be harmful to your child’s health. Depending on the nature and amount of ingested objects, it may cause the following health problems: • Lead poisoning. Eating soils contaminated with lead is a recognized cause of lead poisoning. • Malnutrition. Consuming non-food items leaves less opportunity to eat nutritious foods. • Bowel problems. Eating objects that could get lodged in the intestines may lead to intestinal obstruction or damage. • Dental injury. Consuming hard substances may harm the teeth. • Parasitic infections. Eating soil has been shown to be a signifi cant risk factor for exposure to soil-transmitted parasites and infections.
