As per the Centers for Disease Control, every year in the US around 50,000 cases of salmonella are reported. Nearly one-third of these are children under the age of four. The main cause of salmonella among such young children has been connected to turtles. Turtles are known to carry the bacterium on their shell and outer surface of their skin. The bacterium that turtles carry is the non typhoidal type. As children are known to play with turtles, they are at a higher risk of getting the infection.
Children can get salmonella when they touch or handle turtles that carry the bacterium. Also, any surface that has come in contact with the turtle's feces and contains the bacterium can be source of the infection. Even people with comprised immune systems can be susceptible to this infection if they touch or handle turtles. However, the infection cannot be transmitted via a scratch or bite.
If your kid has got salmonella from your pet turtle, then symptoms will begin to appear within 3 days. Your kid will suffer from fever, headaches, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and cramps in the abdomen. Sometimes the diarrhea can be bloody. If proper treatment is not sought for your kid, the infection can become severe and adversely affect the liver and spleen. Also, your kid can get other infections like meningitis or pneumonia.
You can prevent your child from contracting salmonella from your by following few hygiene practices. Make sure that your kid washes his or her hands with warm water and soap after playing with the turtle. If your kid is really small, it is advisable not to allow the turtle anywhere near him or her. Do not allow the turtle to roam freely around the house, especially where children play. If you have to bathe your turtle, do it outside and not in the kitchen or bathroom. In case your bathe your turtle in the kitchen sink or the bath tub, then clean the place thoroughly using a disinfectant.
These are some of the ways in which you can prevent the spread of salmonella from your to your kids and other family members.
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Kum Martin is an online leading expert in fortunetelling. He also offers top quality articles like:
Dog Diseases Symptoms, Type of Turtle
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