Are slugs dangerous if you suck them?

[SistersKeeper12]

Sorry to post here but need answers asap! Autistic 6 year old son loves slugs and snails, he has been playing in the garden and I just caught him licking/sucking/kissing one. I got it off him and after gagging and throwing up (Me not him!) am concerned that it could be dangerous, aren't they parasite carriers??
He keeps spitting as apparently feels like he has slime in his mouth 🤮 and he has done a mouth rince with mouthwash and water repeatedly.
So should I be worried about the effect on his health? Is it worth calling NHS direct over?

They can carry lungworms which can be dangerous if dogs lick / eat them but I don’t know if humans can get that

I’m not too sure how dangerous it is just to put them in your mouth, but they are very dangerous in terms of carrying parasites. This story was very prevalent in the papers recently:

news.sky.com/story/australian-man-sam-ballard-who-was-left-paralysed-after-eating-a-slug-dies-aged-28-11545373

It should be noted though that this seemed an extreme case. Could you explain the dangers to him?

Yes give 111 a call. I remember that story of that young man who swallowed a slug as part of a drunk prank and it killed him. I also have a sensory seeking ASD son who puts all sorts into his mouth. Its a nightmare

Agree that they can get dogs very ill but no idea if that applies for humans. Ring NHS direct OP, faster way to know without heading to A&E.

I would want to check with someone in the medical field. I heard a story in the news about a man eating a slug.

I feel your pain. Yesterday at the beach one of my toddlers with ASD picked up a desiccated dog crap and bit a chunk off it. I’ve never moved so quickly or screamed NOOOOOOO so loudly in my life.

I would call 111 because of the risk of parasites - I’m sure he’ll be fine but definitely worth getting some reassurance.

If only it wasn’t illegal to muzzle your children, I’d be all over it... (just kidding. Mostly).

@Pinkshowerpuff yes I remember that Story! A man on the news last year ate a slug which had some sort of parasite and died two years later so I’d definitely get yourself to A&E.

I think it will take a while to get rid of the slime. I have picked one up before to move it and it took ages to get rid of the slime left on my fingers.

Hope he is ok.

Lemon juice (or vinegar!) will get rid of slug slime from hands/floors/etc. so if your son is happy to suck on a slice of lemon/eat something vinegary, that should help...

It seems that rat lungworm disease is on the rise in the UK - the young man mentioned above is probably the one in Australia as his was a well-publicised case, and it is common here.
So yes, try to stop him from sucking slugs/snails! And call NHS direct or whatever it's called now, get advice from them.

The parasite is in rat wee, which then the slugs/snails pick up in their slime as they travel over wee trails, and it invades the human brain/nervous system.

Horrible things!

They do carry Salmonella, but IIRC not a type that will readily infect humans. So at least that's something! I would get him checked though, to be on the safe side.

I remember the young man who drank a slug in a pint and died too. Get seen, just in case.

The danger level I believe depends on the type of slug. I would call 111 and check with them.

I really hope this is a joke!

edition.cnn.com/2018/11/05/health/man-dies-after-eating-slug-on-dare/index.html

I would phone 111 because you don't know if they have been eating slug pellets. Also, be prepared for him not to like aubergine in future.

Mabel it wasn't a joke. The man ate the slug as a joke but he died.

My 11 month old son swallowed a slug in the garden I rang NHS Direct who just said to wait till it came out the other end, which it did! That was 13 yrs ago and he is a big strapping almost 6ft rugby player

Why on earth would you imagine that was a joke?
It was very real. And his is not the only case, just a very well publicised one because he made it his business to publicise it.

They can carry lung worm, their slime can also carry salmonella, plus you don't know what it has crawled over, so I'd keep a close eye on him. Because lung worm are dangerous I would give NHS direct a call, he's probably fine but better to be safe than sorry. Dogs tend to get ill from swallowing the slug containing parasites and the guy who died swallowed a slug not just licked it, parasites wouldn't transfer through their slime, so the risk is pretty small.

He probably needs to brush his teeth and tongue if you can get him to, it might help with the slimy feeling.

Health info from NSW on rat lungworm disease:
www.health.nsw.gov.au/Infectious/factsheets/Pages/rat-lung-worm.aspx

Humans can be infected if they eat the raw or undercooked contaminated animals, or vegetables carrying unseen snails or slugs that have not been thoroughly washed.

That's the last time I grow my own lettuce.

Eating or sucking on any kind of raw slug or snail is not a good idea.

You could send the slugs to test for infection, but I'd actively discourage him from doing so.

If your local health authorities or doctors aren't very helpful, try the Hospital for Tropical Diseases if around London or national/regional equivalent.

@Singlenotsingle

No! You misunderstood me ! I mean I hope the post from the OP is a joke.

And then I put a link to the story of how dangerous slugs are if you eat them!

edition.cnn.com/2018/11/05/health/man-dies-after-eating-slug-on-dare/index.html

Singlenotsingle ThumbWitchesAbroad
I assumed mabelsgarden was referring to the OP being a joke, not the case of the young man who died.

Oops - cross posted in your defence mabelsgarden