Infections that Pets Carry

Infections that Pets Carry


Caring for pets is a great learning experience for children, teaching them responsibility, kindness and respect for others
Organisms. Like adults, children can benefit from the companionship, affection and relationships they enjoy with their
Pets.

But animals and pets can transmit infections to humans, especially children. So if you are thinking about buying a pet, or
already have one, it is important to know how to protect your family from infections.

As pets spreading infections
Like people, all animals carry germs. Diseases common in housepets - such as distemper, parvovirus, and
Heartworms - can not be transmitted to humans.

But pets also carry certain bacteria, viruses, parasites, and fungi that can cause disease if transmitted to humans.
People get these animal diseases if they are bitten or scratched or in contact with an animal of waste, saliva
or dander.

These diseases to humans in many ways. You are the biggest concern for small children, infants, pregnant women,
and people whose immune system has been affected by illness or disease. Infants and children younger than 5 years old
are at risk because their immune systems are still developing, and some infections that could make a grown only slightly
Sick can be more serious for them.

Healthy Family, Healthy Pet
But you do not have to give up your family and furry friends either. Pets can enrich your family's life, and a few
Precautions you can protect your children against ill.

Protect your family from pet begins infections before bringing a pet home. For example, reptiles and
Amphibians should not be allowed as pets in a household with infants and toddlers.

Also consider the health and age of your children before they have a pet. A pet that would require frequent handling is not,
recommended for all immunocompromised child (such as a child who has HIV, has cancer and is undergoing chemotherapy, or
often uses prednisone). Children with eczema should probably avoid aquariums.

Dogs and cats
Dogs and cats are popular pets, but can carry infections such as:

Campylobacter infection: transmitted by domestic animals carrying Campylobacter jejuni bacteria that can cause
Diarrhea, abdominal pain and fever in humans. Be the bacteria in the intestines of infected dogs, cats,
Hamsters, birds and certain animals. A person can become infected through contact with contaminated water, feces,
undercooked meat or raw milk.

More than 2 million cases of Campylobacter infection occur each year in the United States, and C. jejuni is now the
leading cause of bacterial gastroenteritis. Campylobacter infections are contagious, especially among members of the same
Family and children in child care or kindergarten. The infection is treated with antibiotics.
Cat-scratch disease: can occur when an infected person is bitten or scratched by a cat with Bartonella henselae bacteria.
Symptoms include swollen and painful lymph nodes, fever, headache and fatigue that usually resolve without treatment.
However, a doctor may prescribe antibiotics if the infection is severe. Cat scratch disease rarely causes long-term
Complications.
Rabies: a serious disease caused by a virus enters the body through a bite or wound contaminated by the saliva of
an infected animal. Animals can carry the rabies virus include dogs, cats, raccoons, bats, skunks and foxes.
Widespread immunization of dogs and cats has reduced the transmission of rabies in these animals and in humans. Human
Rabies is rare in the United States, and a vaccine is potentially available for treatment after a bite from a rabid
Animal.
Rocky Mountain spotted fever (RMSF) is transmitted by ticks infected by the bacteria Rickettsia ricketsii. Symptoms of
RMSF include high fever, chills, muscle aches and headaches, as well as a rash that can spread over the wrists,
Knuckles, palms, soles, and torso of the body. RMSF, which can be treated with antibiotics, is most common in the south
central and mid-South Atlantic regions of the United States.
Ringworm: also called tinea, is a skin infection caused by various species of fungi in the soil and on the skin
People and pets. Children can get ringworm from touching infected animals such as dogs and cats. Ringworm of the skin or
Tinea corporis is usually a dry, scaly round area with a raised red bumpy and removed a clear boundary. When the scalp is
are concerned, the surface can be flaky, red or swollen. Often there are bald spots. Ringworm treated with antifungal
Medications including shampoo, cream or oral medication.
Toxocariasis: a disease caused by the parasitic roundworm Toxocara that lives in the intestines of dogs and cats. The
Eggs out of the worms in the stool of dogs and cats, often contaminating soil where children play. If a child
sucks the contaminated soil, the eggs hatch in the intestine and the larvae spread to other organs, an infection known
as visceral larva migrans. Symptoms include fever, cough or wheezing, enlarged liver, skin rash or swollen lymph nodes.
The symptoms may resolve on their own or a doctor can prescribe medication to kill the larvae. If the larvae in intestine
their way through the bloodstream to the eye, it is known as ocular toxocariasis, or ocular larva migrans, the
lead to permanent vision loss.
Toxoplasmosis: Contract after contact with a parasite found in cat feces. In most healthy people, toxoplasmosis
Infection have no symptoms. If symptoms occur, they can swollen glands, fatigue, muscle aches, fever, sore throat
Neck, and a rash. In pregnant women, toxoplasmosis can cause miscarriage, premature birth and severe illness and
Blindness in newborns. Pregnant women should avoid contact with litter boxes. People whose immune systems have
weakened by diseases such as HIV or cancer are at risk for serious complications of toxoplasmosis infection.
Dog and cat bites: can infect and cause serious problems, especially bites to the face and hands. Cat bites
tend to get worse because they are deep puncture wounds. Significant bites should be washed thoroughly.
Often, these are bite wounds require treatment in a doctor's office or emergency room, antibiotics are sometimes necessary.

Birds
Pet birds, although they are held in a cage, can transfer these diseases:

Cryptococcosis: a fungal disease contracted when someone inhales organisms found in bird droppings, especially from
Pigeons, which can cause pneumonia. People with a weakened immune system from diseases such as HIV or cancer are
increased risk for this disease and the development of serious complications such as meningitis.
Psittacosis: also known as parrot disease, a bacterial disease spread by contact with infected feces or bird can occur, known
The dust that collects in bird cages. Symptoms include cough, high fever and headache. It is treated with
Antibiotics.
Reptiles and amphibians
Reptiles (including lizards, snakes and turtles) and amphibians (including frogs, toads and salamanders) Place Children
Risk for:

Salmonellosis: Reptiles and Amphibians shed Salmonella in their feces. Touch the reptile skin, cage, and other
Contaminated surfaces can lead to infection in humans. Salmonellosis causes symptoms such as abdominal pain, diarrhea,
Vomiting and fever. Young children are at risk for more severe illness, including dehydration, meningitis and sepsis
(Blood poisoning).
Other animals
Handling and care for rodents - including hamsters and gerbils - and the kids can fish at risk for:

Lymphocytic choriomeningitis (LCM): people can lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus by inhaling particles that move in together
come from urine, feces or saliva of infected rodents such as mice and hamsters. LCM may experience flu-like symptoms -
Fever, fatigue, headache, muscle aches, nausea and vomiting - and can even lead to meningitis (inflammation of the
Membrane that surrounds the brain and spinal cord) and encephalitis (inflammation of the brain). As with most viruses,
There is no specific treatment, but some patients may require hospitalization. LCM as toxoplasmosis can be passed
from infected mother to fetus.
Mycobacterium marinum: This infection can occur in people exposed to contaminated water in aquariums or tanks. Although
Mycobacterium marinum infections are usually mild and limited to the skin, they can be severe in people with HIV or
weakened immune systems.

Precautions when adopting or buying a pet
If you are adopting or buying a pet, make sure that the breeder, shelter or store is reputable and inoculated all its
Animals. A reputable breeder should belong to national or local breed club, such as the American Kennel Club.
Contact the Humane Society of the United States or your veterinarian for information about animal shelters in your area.

Once you choose a pet, take it to a local vet for vaccinations and a physical examination. Not
Forgot your routine your pet on a schedule recommended by your veterinarian - this will make your pet healthy and
the risk that infections are transmitted to your children.

You also want to regularly feed your pet nutritious pet food (ask your vet for suggestions) and have plenty of
Freshwater. Avoid feeding your pet raw meat, because this can be a source of infection, and not let your pet
drink toilet water because infections caused by saliva, urine and faeces can be used.

Restrict young children's outdoor contact with pets, hunting and killing for food, because a pet consumed the infected meat can
Contract an infection that can be passed to humans.

Caring for your pet safe
Here are some tips to help keep your family safe care for pets:

Always wash your hands, especially after handling your pet, dealing with food or cleaning your pet's cage, tank,
or litter box. Wear gloves when cleaning an animal to waste, and if you have a bird, wear a dust mask over your
Nose and mouth when cleaning the cage to prevent inhaling urine or feces. You do not have any children clean cages or litter
Boxes, unless it is monitoring or until they have shown they can do so safely and responsibly (and again
Hands should be washed after).
Avoid kissing or touching your pet with the mouth, because infections that can be transmitted through saliva. Also, do not share
Foods with your pet.
Keep your pet's living area clean and free of debris. If your pet eliminates waste outdoors, pick up waste regularly and
do not allow children to play in this area.
Pets are not allowed in areas where food is prepared or handled, not bathe your pet or clean aquariums in the kitchen
Sink or bathtub. Wash your pets outdoors or talk to your vet about professional groomer.
Avoid strange animals or those that appear sick. Never adopt a wild animal as a pet.
Watch carefully for children pets. Small children are more prone to catch infections for pets because they crawl
on the floor with the animals, they kiss or share food with them, or put their fingers in the pets mouth and then
their dirty fingers into her own mouth. Even when children visit a petting zoo, farm, or a friend's house, where there is
Animals, make sure they know how important hand washing.

For your pet's comfort and your family's safety, control flea and tick problems in your pet. Fleas and ticks can
Transmitted diseases that can be easily distributed to children. Oral and topical medications are for pest control;
Avoid flea collars because kids can handle it and sick of the chemicals they contain. Check your pet
regularly for fleas and ticks and bites and scratches that they may be more prone to infections. Keep your
pet leash when outdoors and keep it away from animals that look sick or are unvaccinated.

And finally, spay or neuter your pet. Spaying and neutering your pet can contact with other animals that may reduce
infected, especially if your pet goes outdoors.