No pets for children under 5?
Dr. Joseph Bocchini, pediatrics chairman at Louisiana State University and the head of the infectious diseases committee for the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), recently treated an infant for salmonella. The baby — who had to be hospitalized for four weeks — contracted the disease from the family’s pet iguana, which roamed freely in their home.
The AAP recently reported that young children should not keep certain nontraditional animals as pets, including hamsters, iguanas, baby chicks, and turtles. These particular pets carry dangerous — even deadly — germs that can harm children. Additionally, some of these pets may be more prone to bite or scratch — a particular threat to children under age 5, who may handle animals roughly.
Lizards, turtles and other reptiles are responsible for nearly 11% of salmonella illnesses in children. Hamsters and baby chicks also carry this germ. If a young child kisses the animal — or pets it then puts his hands in his mouth — he can easily contract salmonella. The result? Severe diarrhea, fever and stomach cramps.
Families with children 5 and under should avoid these pets altogether. In fact, the AAP reported this month that young children should even avoid contact with these animals in petting zoos or other public places. If your child is around pets or animals of any kind, then supervision and hand-washing are imperative.
The report’s author, Dr. Larry Pickering, is an infectious disease specialist at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “Many parents clearly don’t understand the risks from various infections” carried by such animals.
Households which already have nontraditional pets should consider finding new homes for the animals. Young children — who often put their hands in their mouth — are especially at risk of contracting diseases because of their developing immune systems.
The report warns that children not be allowed to keep hedgehogs as pets. Hedgehogs have quills that can penetrate a child’s skin and spread bacteria that cause fever, rash, and stomach pain. A spokesperson for the International Hedgehog Association doesn’t believe that hedgehogs should be singled out, but recommends that “no animal should be a pet for kids 5 and under.”
The AAP’s report appears in the October edition of Pediatrics.
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