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The Scoop on Poop

girl clutching toilet paper

The Bottom Line

Feces are waste matter eliminated from the bowels. It is the remains of food in solid or semi-solid form that have not been completely digested. It may also contain products of body metabolism, as well as bacteria and cells from the lining of the digestive tract.

woman picking up dog's feces
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What are feces?

Feces are waste matter eliminated from the bowels. It is the remains of food in solid or semi-solid form that have not been completely digested. It may also contain products of body metabolism, as well as bacteria and cells from the lining of the digestive tract.

How dangerous are human feces?

Human feces are considered potentially dangerous when swallowed since feces contain pathogens including viruses, bacteria, and/or parasites. Although feces have an unpleasant odor, it is not dangerous to breathe the air in restrooms.

What happens if you eat feces?

If you unintentionally eat a small amount of feces, you may not experience any symptoms. However, feces can make you sick. Depending on the pathogens in the feces, you may experience a range of symptoms including vomiting, diarrhea, and fever. If vomiting and diarrhea are severe, dehydration can occur. If feces are contaminated with hepatitis A, liver toxicity can occur. Other diseases may be transmitted via feces as well.

Is human feces toxic?

Human feces can be toxic in that it can cause illness if ingested. However, all human feces are not exactly the same with regard to the bacteria, viruses, and parasites found in it. Therefore, in some instances, ingesting feces may be completely harmless, while other times it may cause illness. In special circumstances, feces may be used therapeutically in individuals who have a severe Clostridium difficile infection that is not responsive to antibiotic therapy. In such cases, fecal transplants from a healthy donor to the sick person can be performed. Fecal transplants should only be performed by a healthcare professional after rigorous screening for communicable diseases has been completed.  

What diseases can feces contain?

The pathogens in feces can cause infections. Bacteria possibly present in human feces include Bacteroides, campylobacter, E. coli, salmonella, shigella, vibrio, and Yersinia. Viruses include adenovirus, coronavirus, enterovirus, hepatitis A, HIV, norovirus and rotavirus. Giardia and Cryptosporidium are 2 examples of parasites that can be found in feces.

Are feces from household pets such as cats and dogs harmful?

Yes. Bacteria and parasitic pathogens may be in animal feces. Dog feces may contain numerous types of bacteria including Campylobacter which can cause diarrhea. Toxoplasma gondii, the parasite that causes toxoplasmosis, may be in cat feces. People with toxoplasmosis can experience flu-like symptoms (headache, fever, fatigue, body aches, swollen lymph nodes). More serious complications can occur, especially in pregnant women and people with poor immune systems. 

What to do if you believe you have a toxic exposure to feces.

If someone is asymptomatic after swallowing a small amount of human feces, then toxicity is unlikely. Wipe out the mouth with a damp cloth and give the individual a small amount of water to drink. Symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and fever usually occur within 4 hours. If symptoms occur, contact your doctor or the poison center. If someone swallows feces, gets feces in the eyes, or if you have a question about safety of feces, help from experts is available through the webPOISONCONTROL online tool and by phone at 1-800-222-1222. Poison Control’s expert guidance is always free, confidential, and available 24 hours a day.
 
Wendy Klein-Schwartz, Pharm.D., MPH
Clinical Toxicologist 

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Prevention Tips

  • Flush the toilet immediately after either urinating or defecating. Wash your hands with soap and water.
  • Be mindful of your baby’s hands when you are changing the diaper, so your baby does not get feces on their hands and in their mouths. 
  • If you have pets, put the litter box in an area not easily accessible to children.
  • Be aware of your surroundings when your children are playing outside. Keep them away from sand or soil that contains animal feces.
  • Do not swallow water in public pools.

This Really Happened

A 12-month-old boy was taking a nap. When he woke up, his parents discovered that he had pulled his soiled diaper off and had smeared feces on the crib, his hands, and in his mouth. They cleaned his hands and wiped out his mouth with a damp cloth. They called Poison Control and the poison specialist recommended that they give him a drink and watch for symptoms. The specialist explained that this is considered a minimally toxic ingestion, especially if the boy ingested a small amount of feces and remained without symptoms. She told them to watch for symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhea, and fever and to call back if those symptoms developed. The poison specialist called to check on the boy 4 hours later, at which time he was still without symptoms. The specialist told the parents he would be fine.

References

Bauza V, Majorin F, Routray P, Sclar GD, Caruso BA, Clasen T. Child feces management practices and fecal contamination: A cross-sectional study in Odish, India. Sci Total Environ. 2020;709:136169. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.136169

Bollani L, Auriti C, Achille C, Garofoli F, De Rose DU, Meroni V, Salvatori G, Tzialla C. Congenital Toxoplasmosis: The state of the art. Front Pediatr. 2022;10:894573. doi: 10.3389/fped.2022.894573

Poisoned?

Call 1-800-222-1222 or

HELP ME online

Prevention Tips

  • Flush the toilet immediately after either urinating or defecating. Wash your hands with soap and water.
  • Be mindful of your baby’s hands when you are changing the diaper, so your baby does not get feces on their hands and in their mouths. 
  • If you have pets, put the litter box in an area not easily accessible to children.
  • Be aware of your surroundings when your children are playing outside. Keep them away from sand or soil that contains animal feces.
  • Do not swallow water in public pools.

This Really Happened

A 12-month-old boy was taking a nap. When he woke up, his parents discovered that he had pulled his soiled diaper off and had smeared feces on the crib, his hands, and in his mouth. They cleaned his hands and wiped out his mouth with a damp cloth. They called Poison Control and the poison specialist recommended that they give him a drink and watch for symptoms. The specialist explained that this is considered a minimally toxic ingestion, especially if the boy ingested a small amount of feces and remained without symptoms. She told them to watch for symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhea, and fever and to call back if those symptoms developed. The poison specialist called to check on the boy 4 hours later, at which time he was still without symptoms. The specialist told the parents he would be fine.