Ask Your Health Question. Health Experts Answer You ASAP.

(Not a Health Question?)

My Doctor just told me about pet viruses and how 70% to 80% ...
Sent to Health Experts September 19 06:13 PM

My Doctor just told me about pet viruses and how 70% to 80% of viruses we get from our pets?

 

Optional Information:
Age: 54

Customer (name blocked for privacy)
Reply
September 21 12:23 AM (1 day and 6 hours later)
         
Relist: I still need help.
My daughter and son in law have a 22 month old son. They have two indoor cats. My grandson has had more colds than most babies, Could the cats be causing some type of virus?
Answer
September 21 12:33 AM (10 minutes and 54 seconds later)
         
ACCEPTEDCheck Mark
Hi,
Definitely some infections are transmitted from pets to humans, but not in the range of 70-80%. As far as viral infections are concerned, the most common one that is transmitted is rabies. It gets transmitted from an infected pet if it bites a human. The viruses of cold and cough are usually species specific. That means a virius infecting dos will not be transferred to other species. Same goes for cats and birds etc. It has also be seen that chronic streptcoccal infection (usually in prolonged sore throats) can be transmitted from pets to humans.
For more information on the dieses transmitted to humans from pets read here

http://www.kidshealth.org/parent/infections/skin/pet_infections.html

I would advise you not to get panicky. The repeated colds can be due to some other cause also. You can try keeping your grandchild away from the pets for a month and observe. If the rate of cold infection goes down then it is definitely due to infection from the pets.

Please ACCEPT the reply (by pressing the GREEN accept button), and give a BONUS if it was useful. If you need more information, just let me know.
Regards
Dr. Gupta


Think you can answer this question?
Login or Become an Expert

 

DISCLAIMER: You acknowledge that any information you may obtain from individuals you contact through use of the Just Answer service comes from those individuals, not from Just Answer!, and that Just Answer is not in any way responsible for any of the information these third parties may supply. The site and services are provided "as is" with no warranty and no representations are made regarding the qualification of an Expert. Responses and comments on Just Answer! are for general information and are not intended to substitute for informed professional advice (such as medical, legal, investment or accounting) and do not establish a professional-client relationship. Just Answer! is not intended or designed to address EMERGENCY QUESTIONS which should be directed immediately by telephone or in-person to qualified professionals. Please carefully read the Terms of Service.

Just Answer! > Online Health Advice