TEMPO.CO, Jakarta – Maintain cat become the choice of many people. However, the choice to get a cat is not without risks. Cats shed a large amount of their fur. Cat hair can affect your health in unexpected ways. This is because cat hair can contain bacteria and parasites that can cause various diseases.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention mentions several disease which can be caused by cat hair, 4 of which:
- Campylobacteriosis
Campylobacter are bacteria that can cause humans and animals to experience campylobacteriosis. The disease is spread by coming into contact with infected animal feces or by consuming contaminated food or water.
Cats are usually infected by eating contaminated raw meat and removing bacteria in their feces. Typically, Campylobacter is spread when people don’t wash their hands after touching animals or food, feces, toys, or bedding. Sometimes it can also infect you through an open wound.
Infected cats sometimes appear healthy and show no signs of Campylobacter infection. Sometimes have diarrhea which may be bloody. People infected with campylobacteriosis can experience diarrhea, fever, and cramps in the stomach. Diarrhea can be accompanied by nausea and vomiting. These symptoms usually appear within 2 to 5 days of infection and last about 1 week.
- Cat Scratch Disease
Cat scratch disease is an infection caused by the bacterium Bartonella henselae. Cats can become infected through flea bites, fighting with other infected cats, or blood transfusions.
About a third to half of cats have been exposed to bacteria in their lifetime. Although most of the infected cats do not appear sick, some cats may have a mild illness with a fever that lasts for about 2 to 3 days. This disease can rarely cause more serious symptoms in cats, including vomiting, red eyes, swollen lymph nodes, fatigue, or decreased appetite.
People can be exposed to the bacteria through scratching or licking an infected cat. The sign if you have a mild infection is the appearance of a small, raised, solid lump at the site of the scratch and swollen lymph nodes near the scratch area. These symptoms occur 1 to 3 weeks after exposure. Infection can also cause fever, and sometimes eye infections, muscle pain, or more severe symptoms.
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- Ringworm
Ringworm is an infection caused by a fungus that can infect the skin, hair, or nails in humans and animals. Ringworm is spread through direct contact with infected animals or people, or it could be from the environment. Anyone can get ringworm.
Some cats may not show signs of ringworm infection, but usually have small areas of hair loss around their ears, face, or legs with scaly or crusty skin. Kittens are the most commonly affected.
People who are infected with ringworm usually feel itchy, appearing in almost any part of the body. Coupled with redness, scaling, cracked skin, or rash. If the infection is on the scalp or beard, hair can fall out. Infected nails can even change color, thicken, or may become crushed.
- Toxoplasma
Toxoplasma is caused by parasites found in soil, water, meat, or infected animal feces, especially cats. People can get Toxoplasma through contact with cat feces or by eating undercooked meat or shellfish. Cats can become infected if they eat infected animals such as birds or other small animals. The parasite then comes out of the cat litter, polluting the environment or cat litter.
People can become infected by consuming contaminated food or water. It could also be if you don’t wash your hands after cleaning the cat litter box or come into contact with anything contaminated by cat litter.
Anyone can get Toxoplasma, but people with weak immune systems are more likely to experience it seriously. Most healthy people who get Toxoplasma have no symptoms, but some may have mild flu-like symptoms. People with weakened immune systems can experience more serious complications from Toxoplasma, including brain disease. Pregnant women who are infected with parasites can pass the infection to their fetuses, which can cause birth defects.
those are the 4 diseases that can be caused by danger cat’s fur. to avoid contracting the disease, take care of your cat properly and also make sure it is clean.
FEBIOLA ANNYSIS
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