Black Specks in Stool: What are they?
The Black Speck is a parasitic organism which causes small black specks in stool. They have been found in all types of feces including human feces, animal feces, plant matter and water. There are different species of Black Speck. Some species cause no symptoms while others may cause diarrhea or vomiting.
How do they Cause Symptoms?
The black specks cause symptoms due to their presence in the intestinal tract. These specks are not harmful unless ingested. However, if swallowed, these specks can cause severe gastrointestinal distress leading to death. Black speck eggs usually remain viable for only one day before dying out. If you have any of these specks in your stools, you will experience diarrhea within 24 hours and vomiting within 48 hours after ingesting them.
What Causes Diarrhea?
Diarrhea occurs when the body’s digestive system fails to properly break down food. This failure results in excessive amounts of gas being produced and the release of stomach acid into the intestines. When enough time passes without treatment, it leads to dehydration and even death. The best way to prevent diarrhea is through proper diet and regular exercise. However, if you experience diarrhea, the only way to stop the cycle of dehydration is to replenish the bodily fluids and electrolytes lost. The best way to do this is by consuming an electrolyte drink.
What are the other Symptoms?
Other symptoms that you may experience while infected with Black Specks include:
If you experience any of these symptoms, it is important that you seek medical attention immediately.
Other Facts about Black Specks in Stool
The symptoms of black specks in stool depend on the size, number and location of the ingested specks. Anything larger than a grain of sand will most likely be vomited back up. Black speck eggs (smaller than a grain of sand) will probably pass through the body without being noticed.
If they do get noticed, they will most likely be passed with the stools. However, larger specks are more likely to cause diarrhea and/or vomiting leading to dehydration and other complications. The best way to prevent these symptoms is to avoid coming into contact with Black Specks in the first place.
Where do Black Specks come from?
Black Specks are most commonly found in water. These specks can also be found in food and soil. They are most commonly ingested in drinking water and can survive boiling. Black Specks are most likely to contaminate water in developing countries or areas with poor sanitation practices. While the water may look and smell clean, these small organisms are hard to see and even harder to filter out.
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Inadequate clearance of translocated bacterial products in HIV-infected humanized mice by …, R Schwendener, W Kempf, D Nadal, RF Speck – PLoS …, 2010 – journals.plos.org
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