Dirt ingestion

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.