Treatment for allergic reactions may include antihistamine pills or nasal or lung sprays for immediate relief. Permanent relief may be provided by desensitization with injections of the substance known to cause the symptoms. Beginning with a weak solution, the dose is gradually increased over a period of weeks until a strong solution is reached and the patient is immune to its effects.
Special treatment for asthma complications include theophylline preparations or other drugs, such as terbutaline or cromolyn sodium, which can be taken in tablet form or in an aerosol spray.
Apes and monkeys have been known to carry tuberculosis, encephalitis, measles, yellow fever, infectious hepatitis, and salmonella infections. Pet turtles are considered to be a primary source of salmonella. Birds can spread psittacosis (parrot fever) and encephalitis. People who handle birds may develop an allergic respiratory problem known as bird fancier’s lung. There are many other allergies caused by animals. Continued exposure often worsens the allergy.
Bites from animals can transmit infection or rabies and should always be reported to a doctor. The danger of infection can be greatly reduced by washing the wound with soap under running warm water for a minimum of 10 minutes. If bitten by a bat, skunk, fox, dog, or cat, one should follow the normal precautions for rabies.
To minimize the risks of disease, infection, or injury, avoid intimate contact, for example, kissing or allowing a pet to take food from the lips. Take your pet for regular veterinary check-ups and make sure that immunizations are kept up to date. Keep your pet clean and well groomed and keep children away from areas where pets defecate. Children should also be discouraged from making pets of wild animals. Squirrels, chipmunks, and woodchucks tend to bite when in captivity.
