Seasonal Allergies

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Tips for Dealing with Spring Allergies

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  • Avoid being outside during high pollen count hours – Pollen count is usually at its highest between 10am and 4pm
  • Use an HEPA (high-efficiency particulate air) filter on your furnace and air conditioner
  • Download the free pollen.com app for your iPhone so you can check what the pollen count is wherever you are
  • If you have pets, wipe their fur and paws after they have been outside to prevent them from tracking pollen into your home.
  • If staying indoors isn’t enough to prevent your allergy symptoms – try taking over the counter allergy medications, such as Claritin, Zyrtec, Allergra, etc.
  • If over the counter medications don’t help relieve your allergy symptoms – consider seeing an allergist who can better help treat your symptoms

Source: www.familydoctor.org, www.pollen.com

Can You Get Sick from Your Pet?

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Welcoming a new pet into the home is an exciting prospect for most. Numerous studies have shown that interacting with a furry, feathered, or finned friend can reduce stress, entertain, and provide companionship.

Although it is rare to get sick from a pet, it is possible to contract a bacterial, viral, fungal or parasitic illnesses if proper hygiene measures are not followed. Infections transmitted from animals can cause a variety of symptoms such as muscle aches, flu-like symptoms, diarrhea, skin rashes, and fever. Children under the age of 5, pregnant women, and those with weakened immune systems such as cancer patients, organ transplant patients, and patients infected with the HIV virus have an increased risk of contracting an animal-borne illness.

It is important for all pet owners to learn about various infections that may affect their pets and how these illnesses can be transmitted to humans. Some infections to be mindful of are listed below.

Campylobacteriosis – Campylobacteriosis is a bacterial disease affecting the gastrointestinal tract that is spread through contact with infected feces from puppies, kittens, dogs and cats. Symptoms in humans include mild to severe diarrhea, cramps, nausea and vomiting. Animals do not always appear ill when they have Campylobacteriosis.

Cat Scratch Fever – Cat scratch disease (CSD) is caused by a strain of bacteria called Bartonella henselae. Symptoms include a mild infection around a scratch or bite, swollen lymph nodes, fever, headache, fatigue, and lack of appetite. Cats or kittens carrying this bacteria typically do not display any signs of illness.

Hookworm – Hookworm infections are caused by parasites and are more commonly found in younger animals like puppies or kittens. Hookworm eggs pass into animal feces where they can hatch into larvae. If soil contaminated with eggs or larvae is accidently ingested or is tread upon with bare feet, a person can contract a hookworm infection. Symptoms of hookworm can include a painful, itchy skin rash, abdominal pain, or blood in bowel movements. Many individuals with hookworm are asymptomatic.

Psittacosis – Psittacosis is a rare bacterial infection caused by the bacterium Chlamydia psittaci. Pet birds, such as parakeets and parrots, are the most common causes of psittacosis in humans, although all birds can carry Chlamydia psittaci. Psittacosis occurs when dried secretions from infected birds are inhaled. Symptoms include fever, chills, headache, muscle aches, and dry cough. Complications from psittacosis such as pneumonia, endocarditis, and hepatitis can be life threatening.

Rabies – Rabies is a potentially deadly viral disease transmitted through the bite of an infected animal. Most states require pets to be vaccinated, protecting them from developing this infection in the event they are bitten by a rabid wild animal. Any individual bitten by a dog, cat or ferret whose rabies vaccination status is unknown or not up to date should consult a medical professional for a comprehensive assessment immediately.

Ringworm – Ringworm is caused by fungi transmitted directly from a pet’s skin or fur. It causes an itchy, ring-shaped rash on the skin. Ringworm can be spread through contact with kittens, puppies, dogs, cats, horses, and livestock animals.

Salmonellosis – Salmonellosis is caused by the bacterium Salmonella. It can be passed to people from a variety of infected pets including dogs, cats, birds, fish, reptiles, amphibians, and rodents. Salmonella spreads through feces, which can contaminate fur, feathers, scales, and environmental habitats such as animal bedding or aquarium water. People handling infected pets or components an infected pet’s environment are at the highest risk of developing Salmonellosis. Symptoms of this illness include diarrhea and fever.

Toxoplasmosis – This is a parasite passed to people through contact with contaminated cat feces. Symptoms include flu-like symptoms, swollen glands, and muscle aches. Pregnant women must avoid all contact with cat feces including cleaning litter boxes. If a pregnant woman develops toxoplasmosis, this infection can infect the fetus causing serious malformations and possible miscarriage.

For complete and detailed information visit:

http://www.cdc.gov/HEALTHYPETS/browse_by_diseases.htm

Tips for protecting yourself against animal-borne illnesses

  • Wear gloves when cleaning up pet waste.
  • Wash hands thoroughly with soap and running water immediately after coming into contact with pet feces or saliva.
  • Clean all scratches and bites from pets with running water and soap.
  • Use antibacterial household cleansers to disinfect counters, sinks, floors, or other surfaces that may have come into contact with pet waste or saliva.
  • Keep your pet’s recommended vaccinations up to date. Discuss what additional ongoing measures are needed to optimize the health of your pet with your veterinarian.
  • If your pet exhibits any signs of illness, take them to a veterinarian.
  • Alert your local animal control agency if you notice stray animals on your property or elsewhere in your community.
  • Avoid walking barefoot outdoors.
  • If your pet is bitten by a wild animal, have them assessed by a veterinarian immediately.
  • Spay or neuter your pets to help reduce the number of stray and unwanted pets
  • Never approach a wild animal. If you are bitten by a wild animal, seek medical attention immediately.

American Heart Month

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Join us in raising awareness about heart disease.  

Heart disease is the leading cause of death for both women and men. According to the CDC, about 600,000 people in the United States die from heart disease every year.

The term “heart disease” refers to several different heart conditions. The most common heart condition in the US is Coronary Artery Disease (CAD).  CAD occurs when plaque builds up in the arteries that supply blood to the heart. CAD can cause heart attacks, angina, heart failure, and abnormal heart rhythms.

Heart disease can be controlled and even prevented. Taking small steps towards making better lifestyle choices can make a big difference in your heart health.

  • Eat a healthy diet
  • Maintain a healthy weight
  • Exercise and be active
  • Quit smoking and tobacco use
  • Limit alcohol intake
  • Stress less

Get regular physical exams and discuss with your health care provider whether you have any risk factors that may increase your chances of developing heart disease. Create a plan with your health care provider to actively manage and control any underlying medical conditions you may have such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or diabetes.

For more information on heart disease, visit http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/

 

Highly Contagious ‘Norovirus’ Spreading in U.S.

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The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) reports that a highly contagious “stomach bug” called a “norovirus,” is now spreading in the U.S. and worldwide. This particular strain is said to have originated in Australia. Wide-spread norovirus infections can commonly occur on cruise ships and in schools.

A norovirus is a major cause of gastroenteritis, which is an inflammation of the stomach and small and large intestines. Norovirus symptoms are diarrhea, nausea or vomiting, abdominal cramps, and fever contracted primarily through infected fecal matter. Norovirus is not the influenza virus. Influenza usually does not cause symptoms such as vomiting or diarrhea.

Norovirus is contracted through direct contact with an infected person, by sharing foods or utensils; through contaminated food and liquids, or by touching contaminated surfaces and then your face and mouth. People with norovirus illness are contagious from the moment they begin feeling sick until at least 3 days after they recover. But, some people may be contagious for even longer.

Follow this advice from the CDC to help prevent you and others from getting sick:

  • Wash Hands Often – Use soap and water and scrub hands after using the bathroom, changing diapers and before handling food or eating. Norovirus can stay in your system for up to 2 weeks, so continue to wash your hands more frequently than usual during this time. In addition to hand washing you can use alcohol-based hand sanitizers.
  • Wash and Cook Food Thoroughly - Carefully wash fruits and vegetables before preparing and eating them. Noroviruses can survive temperatures up to 140°F and quick steaming processes often used for cooking shellfish. Cook shellfish thoroughly. Keep sick individuals out of food preparation areas. If you are sick, do not prepare food.
  • Clean and Disinfect Contaminated Surfaces – Wear gloves and after vomiting and episodes of diarrhea, clean surfaces immediately with a chlorine bleach solution (5–25 tablespoons of household bleach [5.25%] per gallon of water) or other disinfectant registered as effective against norovirus by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
  • Wash Laundry Thoroughly – Handle contaminated clothes and linens carefully and wash them immediately. Wear rubber or disposable gloves and wash your hands afterwards. Wash the items with detergent in hot water at the maximum available cycle length then machine dry them.

It is important to drink plenty of fluids lost through vomiting and diarrhea to avoid dehydration. Antibiotics are not effective in treating norovirus. Time, rest and avoiding contact with others is important. See a doctor or go to an urgent care walk-in clinic if you or someone you are caring for seems dehydrated. For additional information go to www.cdc.gov