10 Diseases Kids Can Catch From Their Pets

1. Cat Scratch Fever – Cats
   infected with Bartonella henselae bacteria are
   responsible for cat scratch fever, which causes swollen lymph nodes,
   fever, headaches and fatigue in humans.
2. Ringworm –
   Despite the name, ringworm is actually a type of fungus that feeds on skin
   cells and hair of mammals. Cats and dogs are commonly affected in youth,
   and it can be transferred to humans if spores come into contact with skin.
3. Plague – While it is
   possible for domestic cats to become infected with Yersinia pestis,
   the bacteria that causes bubonic plague, from prey rodents, it’s exceedingly
   rare.
4. Tuberculosis – While
   dogs and cats are usually resistant to tuberculosis, African and Asian pet
   monkeys are a quite common source of exposure to humans. Once easily
   treated, newer strains of tuberculosis are treatment-resistant.
5. Strep and Staph – Streptococci and Staphylococci rarely
   cause symptoms in infected pets, but can still be passed on to humans.
   When the bacteria do cause symptoms in pets, they typically present with
   eye or skin infections.
6. Salmonella – The
   same salmonella bacteria that causes us to carefully cook chicken and to
   scrub countertops religiously can also be passed between pets and their
   humans. Those with healthy immune systems usually only experience diarrhea
   and stomach cramps, but it can be life-threatening for infants and kids
   with compromised immune systems.
7. B-Virus –
   Macaque monkeys, of which several species are sold as pets, often carry a
   virus called herpesvirus simiae, or B-virus. Up to 90% of
   adult macaques are infected; the disease is mild or altogether asymptomatic
   in monkeys. However, a bite from an infected pet monkey can lead to
   meningoencephalitis.
8. Rabies –
   There’s no cause for concern if your pet’s vaccinations are up to date,
   but a newly-taken-in stray or rescue that carries rabies can infect any
   mammal it encounters, including humans.
9. Toxoplasmosis – The
   same organism that causes obstetricians to discourage pregnant women from
   cleaning a cat’s litter box can also infect children. While it typically
   causes no overt signs of disease, in some rare cases, headache, fever,
   sore throat and muscle pain can occur.
10. Giardia – A
    single-celled organism known as Giardia lamblia that
    lives in the intestines of birds and mammals alike is the most common
    non-bacterial cause of diarrhea in American humans, according to doctors.
    Children are more likely to contract giardia than adults.

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