True Stories: Real trouble from a turtle

As the weather gets warm, we see more children with diarrhea and vomiting.
Jose, 16 months old, was brought to a health clinic by his mother for the above complaints.

He had painful mucous stools and cried with each bowel movement. In addition, Jose had a bad sore throat.

A physician gave him an antibiotic, fluid advice and sent him home. Three days later, he still had diarrhea. I saw him this time, took a stool culture and continued the antibiotic as he still had a sore throat.

Another two days went by; Jose came back with the same complaints. He did not have fever and had no blood in his stools. He was well-hydrated and gaining weight. Therefore, I stopped the antibiotic.

Another two days later, the stool culture report came back; it grew a germ called Salmonella group C2. I notified the health department.

Having known that this infection usually comes from animals, I inquired the mother whether she had any pets at home. “No dogs or cats,” she said, “but my other son has a small turtle. He plays with it, takes it out of water and puts it back.”

“Give the turtle away,” I advised the mother.

Most of the diarrhea-causing salmonella infections are acquired from farm animals and pets.

Farm animals, dogs, cats, reptiles and amphibians carry the infection.

Domestic animals contract the infection by consuming contaminated raw meat, poultry, eggs, fish-food or bone meal.

Infected chicken transmit the bacteria to their eggs.

Prior antibiotic use in children is also a factor in getting this infection. Antibiotics alter the gut bacterial flora, predisposing the gut for invasion by salmonella.

After recovering from this infection, children continue to excrete the bacteria for several months and spread the disease to others.

School outbreaks occur as well, which are usually due to contaminated meats and salads.

In children, annually, 1.4 million salmonella diarrheal infections occur in this country resulting in 168,000 office visits, 15,000 hospitalizations and 580 deaths.

Jose very likely got the salmonella infection from the pet turtle. I started him on an antibiotic that is effective against these bacteria.

There are guidelines from CDC to prevent transmission of salmonella infection from reptiles and amphibians to humans.

Pet store owners, physicians and veterinarians should educate the public about diseases transmitted from animals to humans.

Children less than 5 years of age and those with compromised immunity should avoid contact with reptiles and amphibians. Such families should not keep them at home. Childcare centers and schools should not keep these pets.

The pet owners should not let these pets freely roam in the kitchen or near the food preparation areas; they should not bathe these animals in the kitchen sink.

People should wash their hands thoroughly after handling the pets. These are simple but very effective preventive measures.

Jose did well. The last I checked with the mother, she had dropped the turtle off somewhere.

-- Contact Dr. Raghavendra Rao at usharagu1@yahoo.com.