Can My Pet Bird Make Me Or My Kids Sick? - Pets and Animals Article

By:Mitch Endick

Yes, your pet bird can potentially get you or your child sick. Infectious diseases that can be transmitted between humans and animals are called zoonotic. Unfortunately, birds can carry at lease five different serious illnesses. Not all birds carry disease but the potential is there so you must be cautious, especially with very young children, very old people and immune system compromised people. Immune compromised people would include organ transplant recipients, people in chemotherapy and HIV infected people.

If you think that you or your child has been exposed to or is suffering from any bird disease, your smart move is to consult your physician who can help pinpoint the cause and prescribe proper treatment. This article is for your additional information only. I feel that it is always smart to do your homework before you consult your physician. The more help you can offer your physician on his diagnosis of a problem the better.

First, to help avoid exposure to potential disease, cleanliness counts. To best protect yourself from getting sick, thoroughly wash your hands with running water and soap after contact with birds or their droppings.
Some people use rubber gloves and a mask when cleaning birdcages and habitats. Disinfect the sink after you wash bird toys, perches and food bowls. Do not share bites of food with your pet bird, if you might be swapping saliva. Common sense goes a long way in helping to avoid exposure.

The five diseases that can be carried by birds are Salmonella, Chlamydia psittaci , Avian Tuberculosis, HistoPlasmosis and Cryptoccus. I will explain each disease.

*Salmonella is a bacterial disease associated with many birds, especially chickens, baby chicks, and ducklings. Salmonella live in the intestinal tracts of some birds, humans and other animals. Salmonella can be found in the feces of some pets, and people can become infected if they do not wash their hands after contact with these feces. There are approximately 40,000 human cases of salmonellosis per year in the United States (not all contracted from birds) and about 600 of those infected die. Salmonella causes vomiting and diarrhea and sometimes fever. Salmonella infections usually resolve in 5-7 days and often do not require treatment unless the patient becomes severely dehydrated or the infection spreads from the intestines. Persons with severe diarrhea may require rehydration, often with intravenous fluids. Antibiotics are not usually necessary unless the infection spreads from the intestines, then it can be treated with ampicillin, gentamicin, trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole, or ciprofloxacin.

*Chlamydia psittaci, often referred to as parrot fever or avian chlamydiosis (AC), is an important cause of systemic illness in birds kept as pets and in poultry. This disease has been isolated in 129 bird species, and parakeets, parrots, macaws, cockatiels, pigeons, doves, and mynah birds are the most likely carriers. Birds may carry this disease for years without showing signs of it. Birds that show the disease may have a respiratory infection, eye discharge, lethargy and diarrhea. Human infection with C. psittaci usually occurs through the inhalation of aerosolized contaminated bird urine, respiratory secretions, or dried feces of infected birds. Other sources of exposure can include bird bites, mouth-to-beak contact, and handling the plumage and tissues of infected birds. Treatment includes Tetracyclines are the drugs of choice for treating psittacosis in humans

*Avian Tuberculosis can affect all species of birds. The signs of Avian TB in birds are diarrhea, dull plumage, lethargy and gradual wasting away, even if the birds appetite is good. Avian TB can be transmitted to humans via ingestion or inhalation of contaminated feces. The contaminated feces can persist in the environment for many years. When cleaning a potentially sick bird, it is best to wear rubber gloves, goggles and a face mask. Always wash arms up to elbows with antiseptic soap even after wearing gloves. People are generally very resistant to these infections.

*HistoPlasmosis is a fungus that can be found in earth rich with bird droppings. Transmission to human can occur when they breathe in dust loaded with the fungus. This disease can cause a short term lung infection. This infection generally clears up by itself as long as the infected person has normal immune responses. Fungus killing medicines may be used if the infection is stubborn.

* Cryptococcus is found in the droppings of wild birds (such as pigeons). When dried bird droppings are stirred up, this can make dust containing Cryptococcus go into the air and be breathed by people. Pets, such as dogs and cats, can also get sick with cryptococcosis from this dust, but people do not get cryptococcosis from dogs and cats. Most people do not get sick with cryptococcosis, but some people, especially those immune compromised with HIV infection are at danger. For these people, cryptococcosis can cause serious symptoms of brain and spinal cord disease, such as headaches, dizziness, sleepiness, and confusion.

Digg del.icio.us Blink Stumble Spurl Reddit Netscape Furl

Article keywords: pet, health, salmonella, avian flu, bird make sick

Article Source: http://www.articles2k.com

Mitch Endick is a short article writer, editor and website developer for the popular pet site petpages.com.
www.petpages.com is a pet information site with free pet ads, dog classifieds, and puppy for sale info Petpages.com also offers information on cats, fish, reptiles, birds, ferrets, rabbits, mice and even pet bugs.

Top Pets and Animals Articles
1). Winter Dog Agility Training By : Brad Carlson Yes, its cold outside, but don't stop your dog's agility training. Depending on where you live, there might be snow on the ground from November through March, but thats no reason to give up your agility training. Bring your training indoors, right at your own home. Get creative with your training locations. Do you have a hallway, basement, or garage? Then you have a place to train! Before it snows and your equipment is frozen to the ground, store some in your garage, shed, basement, or put a tarp over it.
2). How to Choose Goldfish By : Nate Jamieson How you choose your goldfish, depends largely on two things: the type of fish you really like to see, and the kind of container you intend to keep
3). 5 Tips for a Happy and Healthy Dog By : Paul Duxbury Think beyond the norm when it comes to feeding your dog and you will have a happy and healthy dog!
4). Pet Safety By : Lee Dobbins Your home might be "kid-proof" but how does it measure up when it comes to safety for your pet? Do you know all the hazards your pet is exposed to? Ho
5). The Long, Low Basset Hound By : Charles Kassotis The Basset Hound�s most noticeable features include the long ears, drooping forehead and short legs. These dogs are excellent at smelling, partly due to their noses but also because of their ears. It was originally bred as a hunter, but has risen in popularity as a family pet and canine pal, as the epitome of the loyal friend.
6). How To Stop A Dog From Chewing By : Terence Young Most normal dogs will bite and chew. While you cannot completely erase this behavior, you can regulate it and influence the dog�s behavior.
7). Things to think about before buying a Dog By : Paul Duxbury There is a lot to consider when bringing a Dog into your family and home. Here are a few thoughts on areas that you need to consider.
8). Train Your Buddy To �Walk� & �Dance� - Warning: Not All Dogs By : Moses Chia Standing and walking on the hind legs are tricks that put an abnormal strain upon the muscles of the back and hind legs and most dogs require consider
9). Three Thinghs to Keep in Mind when You Buy Parrot Toys By : Ispas Marin Three Thinghs to Keep in Mind when You Buy Parrot Toys
10). Dalmatians � Great Dogs, Even in Numbers Less than 101 By : Charles Kassotis It was the movie that made Dalmatians an instant success as companion dogs and family pets. Treated well and properly trained, Dalmatians can be every bit the wonderful companion depicted on the big screen.

New Pets and Animals Articles
1). Pet Store - A Place That Every Child Needs To Visit To Gain Love For Animals By : Brooke Hayles Pet stores are wonderful places for children to visit to gain a love of animals. While you may not be able to actually touch the animals online, the variety of supplies is usually greater than the local store.
2). Your Cat Goes Missing By : Kadence Buchanan According to the most recent Synovate pet survey (Sept. 2005), conducted in nine markets across the globe, the UK and the US were shown to be the two absolute leaders in pet ownership.
3). How To Know If Your Cat Has Feline Diabetes And How To Treat It By : Gregg Hall Just like all pets, cats need to be watched for signs of illness, such as feline diabetes. This disease is just as dangerous for cats as it is for humans and if left untreated, could become deadly.
4). Some Tips To Help You Recognize Common Cat Ailments By : Gregg Hall Many potential health issues can be avoided by keeping them up to date on their vaccinations. There are still health problems that need to be watched for, even if you take your cat for its annual physical and shots.
5). Is The German Shepherd The Perfect Dog For You? By : Lee Dobbins If you want a dog that is fearless, smart and hard-working than the German Shepherd may be for you!
6). Which Dog Breeds Are More Likely To Kill People By : Mitch Endick Some dog breeds are more likely to kill than others and some breeds are more protective of their masters and physical surrounding than others. This is the results of a twenty year study.
7). Tips To A Well Behaved Dog By : Terence Young Having a well behaved dog can really mean the difference between a pleasant experience and a downright horror pet story.
8). How To Simplfiy House Cleaning With Pets By : Melody Thacker Keeping your house clean with a pet or two in the family can be a challenge. Taking a bit of time to train your pet, some advanced planning and preventative measures will make keeping your house clean with pets much easier and less time consuming.
9). Nebelung Cats, a Substitute for the Russian Blue By : Iro Ignatiadi Not the kind of cat you would want to have with small children, the Nebelung is a great companion that loves lying in you lap and being petted.
10). Caring For Your Pet Parrot By : Lee Dobbins Parrots make great pets but they do need some specialized care. Read this article and find out if you are ready for a pet parrot.

� 2006 articles2k.com - Privacy Policy