Warning About Pet Amphibians And Reptiles

  Children, especially boys, have a fascination with snakes, frogs, iguanas and turtles. In 2011, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), a national agency that monitors risks to the public’s health, issued a warning about amphibians and reptiles as pets. This warning specifically mentioned African dwarf frogs that have become popular in home aquariums.

   The warning concerns the spread of an infection with Salmonella, a form of bacteria that can cause fever, diarrhea and abdominal cramping which can lead to dehydration and even require hospitalization. Children can easily become contaminated with Salmonella from contact with amphibians and reptiles, their habitats or the water from the aquariums. Young children are especially susceptible to getting infected because they don’t wash their hands well and always put their hands in their mouths. The CDC warned against having these kinds of pets in homes, daycares or preschools where there are children under five years old. Children should not have these pets in their bedroom.  Anyone who has contact with amphibian or reptile pets or their habitats should carefully wash their hands immediately after contact. If fever or diarrhea develops in a child who has contact with one of these pets, the parents should speak with the child’s caregiver.