Below is a release on a policy statement appearing in the October issue of Pediatrics, the peer-reviewed, scientific journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP).

For Release: October 6, 2008, 12:01 am (ET)

Most nontraditional pets – such as rodents, reptiles, monkeys, and illegal exotic animals – pose a health risk to young children and people with immune deficiencies, and ownership and exposure should be discouraged in these populations, according to a new AAP clinical report. While pet ownership can be beneficial to children, many nontraditional pets can spread disease and infection (such as salmonella, campylobacter and cryptosporidium), cause injury, and/or trigger allergies. The report, “Exposure to Nontraditional Pets at Home and to Animals in Public Settings: Risks to Children,” states that pediatricians and veterinarians play an important role in guiding parents and children about the benefits of pet ownership and the risks associated with nontraditional pet ownership and contact with  animals in public settings. While pediatricians understand pet-related hazards, only 5 percent reported that they regularly educated parents and children about such dangers. The clinical report encourages joint pediatric-veterinary health communication campaigns to increase awareness of animal risks and precautions to prevent injury and illness.

EDITOR’S NOTE: A related AAP policy statement, “Medical Emergencies Occurring at School,” provides specific guidelines for schools in preparing for and responding to a student medical emergency, and outlines the role of primary care clinicians and school physicians in assisting and supporting such efforts.

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The American Academy of Pediatrics is an organization of 60,000 primary care pediatricians, pediatric medical subspecialists and pediatric surgical specialists dedicated to the health, safety and well being of infants, children, adolescents and young adults.