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| |    Health Concerns and Pets: Bacteria by Susan E. Davis reviewed by Lynn Cates, M.D., F.A.A.P. I have a friend--a very smart friend, in fact--who once did something very dumb. This friend had a passion for reptiles. He had such a passion that much of his house was lined with giant aquariums filled with strange-looking, scaly creatures. Then my friend's wife had a baby. And although my friend had a Ph.D. in public health (told you he was smart), he neglected to wash his hands between handling his reptiles and handling his infant. And that little baby ended up being hospitalized with a severe case of Salmonella, a potentially life-threatening infection whose symptoms include prolonged diarrhea and high fevers. Truth is, no matter how much you love pets and consider them true members of the family, certain hygiene rules have to be followed, especially when there are young children around. Read on to learn how to protect your family from some bacteria that can cause a problem for animal owners, and see our article on parasites and other pet-related health concerns. Salmonella This bacterium has been associated with reptiles (i.e., lizards, snakes, iguanas, and turtles), chicks, and ducklings. It can cause severe diarrhea, abdominal pain, fever, vomiting, bloodstream infections (or sepsis), meningitis, bone infections, and even death. It can be especially serious in infants and young children, and anyone with decreased immunity (e.g., sickle cell disease, HIV/AIDS, or cancer). Pets transmit Salmonella through their feces. In order to get infected, you (or your child) has to touch the feces and then put your hands in your mouth. Young children may grab for feces directly ("Hey, what is that stuff?") or, like an adult, they may accidentally get it on their hands when they pick up or pat the animal, or handle its food or water dishes. The best way to prevent such infections is to thoroughly wash hands with soap and water after having any contact with a reptile or a bird, or its cages, dishes, or toys. Avoid cleaning the pet's equipment in the sink where you wash your own dishes or food. In fact, the Centers for Disease Control recommend that families with children younger than five years not get chicks, ducklings, or reptiles as pets. The CDC also notes that the risk of Salmonella is higher in animals that are young, have diarrhea, and live in overcrowded conditions--another good reason to choose your source of pets carefully. Leptospirosis Caused by spiral-shaped Leptospira bacteria, this disease can be spread through the urine, blood, or tissue of infected animals (most outbreaks, however, probably come from boating or swimming in contaminated water). Humans can get it from pet urine (or from soil contaminated by that urine); pets usually get it after contact with the urine of infected livestock, rats, or wild animals, such as deer, squirrels, raccoons, or opossums. The disease is rare in humans but can be serious, as it can cause permanent damage to major organs, including the kidney, heart, liver, and lungs. If your pet (usually a dog) has the disease, your vet can treat it with antibiotics. (A leptospirosis vaccination is available for dogs; it prevents them from getting sick, but not from getting the infection and spreading it.) Until he's cured, you'll need to wear gloves when handling your pet or anything else that could be contaminated. You also should monitor your family carefully for symptoms like fever, muscle aches, pink eye, and headaches--and particularly, jaundice, lethargy, or confusion--and call a physician immediately if you suspect anyone has become infected.
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