Reptiles Making Me Sick?

Is there a possibility that reptiles will make you sick? Like get a lot of colds and flus? Lately, I've been a very sick person. I've been sick over 6 times in 2009, and I think I'm getting the flu. My mom thinks it could be the reptiles. So, I wonder if there is a possibility that snakes can make you more able to become ill.

Are you washing your hands after you hold your snakes? If not that could be why

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Originally Posted by DShaw

Are you washing your hands after you hold your snakes? If not that could be why

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You bet I do.

Colds/flus cannot be transmitted from your reptiles but there are other zoonoses that could be.

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Originally Posted by coldblooded

Colds/flus cannot be transmitted from your reptiles but there are other zoonoses that could be.

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Yeah, I knew it can't be the reptiles. I mainly have my mom's side of the genes and on her side they have strong immune systems so I'm not sure why I've been sick 5 times in a 3 month time period. I don't eat that healthy (come on, I'm a kid:D:cool:) but I do wash my hands. I'm guessing I'm getting sick from the kids at school, there are a lot of germs on the desks and stuff. That's why I put on a lot of hand sanitizer at school:D:rolleyes:

Species Specific. Reptilian diseases/bacterial can not harm mammalian animals or humans and vise verse.

While it's not impossible that your reptiles may be causing you problems it is very unlikely. If you really think there is a chance, go to the doctor and get some blood work done.

We all have our stories but I have been keeping reptiles for a lot of years and have never had any illness that was attributed to them. The salmonella topic always comes up but is more media-hype than anything. Good hand-washing is always the best bet, of course. In my time I have been bit, scratched, gouged, pooped on, pee'd on, bled on and had every fluid you can think of get into open wounds, my mouth and in my eyes. The live animal business is nasty from time-to-time. ;)

Here is an interesting link: http://www.exoticpetvet.net/reptile/zoonoses.html
You may also want to check out Dave and Tracy Barker's Ball Python book. I seem to recall that it had a section on zoonosis as well.

The best way for you to catch a cold or get the flu from your reptile is to have a sick (and human) friend over to your house, let them sneeze into their hands, handle your reptile, immediately hand it to you and then you stick your fingers in your mouth.

I doubt very seriously it has anything to do with the reptiles and think colin is probably right. However, every season there are new bugs floating around. I have spend the better part of a month now, trying to recover from H1N1. It literally kicked my rear end into the dirt. Since I'm an R.N. I get hit with all sorts of bugs and after 21 years of it, my immune system usually functions pretty well, and knocks most things out. This however, was BIG, BAD and extremely UGLY

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Originally Posted by singingtothewheat

I doubt very seriously it has anything to do with the reptiles and think colin is probably right. However, every season there are new bugs floating around. I have spend the better part of a month now, trying to recover from H1N1. It literally kicked my rear end into the dirt. Since I'm an R.N. I get hit with all sorts of bugs and after 21 years of it, my immune system usually functions pretty well, and knocks most things out. This however, was BIG, BAD and extremely UGLY

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I think since I don't eat as well as I should is making my immune system lower which is making me get all of these colds and flus. I was just curious if the reptiles could be a possibility. I don't think they have anything to do with me becoming sick if I have good hygene.

Thanks for your awesome post Colin, it was helpful.