"Yikes! Caught again!"
Posted on 01/05/2002 3:09:47 AM PST by Pharmboy
Friday January 4 5:18 PM ET
ATLANTA (Reuters Health) - Children may put themselves at risk of a severe and potentially fatal infection by ingesting soil or other materials contaminated with raccoon feces, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (news - web sites) (CDC).
If ingested by humans, the eggs of the common roundworm Baylisascaris procyonis (BP), which inhabits the small intestine of raccoons, can cause encephalitis, an inflammation of the brain tissue.
CDC researchers point out that young children are at particular risk for infection because they may eat soil or dirt contaminated with raccoon feces containing BP eggs, or place contaminated fingers and other objects, such as toys, into their mouths.
In the January 4th issue of its Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, the CDC reports two cases of this type of infection, one ending in severe brain damage and the other in death.
In one case, a 2-year-old Chicago boy entered the hospital in July 2000 with a low-grade fever. Encephalitis was diagnosed, and less than 24 hours after the boy entered the hospital, he lapsed into a coma.
The child was treated with drugs, but did not improve. After 4 weeks, he was transferred to a rehabilitation center for several months. Now, he resides at home where ``he remains profoundly neurologically disabled and in need of continuous nursing care,'' according to the CDC report.
``Eighteen days before admission, the child's parents had observed that he had dirt on his mouth while playing beneath a cluster of trees in a nearby yard in a Chicago suburb where raccoons are common,'' the investigators note.
A second case in Los Angeles in January 2000 involved a 17-year-old boy with severe developmental disabilities. He was taken to a hospital after he became comatose.
Two days before the boy was hospitalized, the CDC reports, he had ``a low-grade fever, drowsiness, and problems with coordination.''
After being treated in the hospital for 2 months, the boy was transferred to a long-term care facility, where he remained comatose for a year until he died.
According to the CDC, at least 12 cases of severe or fatal BP encephalitis, including the two cases described in the report, have been identified since 1981 in the United States. Ten of these cases were in children 6 years of age or younger. The CDC's Dr. Peter Schantz told Reuters Health that raccoons are common throughout the United States and most populations are infected with this intestinal parasite.
``Individuals in many communities like these 'cute' animals and encourage them with food,'' he said. ``When not encouraged by handouts, the raccoons often share dog and cat food with household pets.'' Schantz pointed out that the 2% to 5% of young children with the habit of putting dirt or soil in their mouths are at ''great risk'' of ingesting this material. But, he continued, ''all children are at increased risk when playing in contaminated habitats because kids are kids.''
According to the CDC investigators, ``the risk for BP infection is greatly reduced by avoiding direct contact with raccoons and their urban habitats, by removing access to food and potential denning sites, and by limiting exposure to areas and materials that might be contaminated by raccoon feces.''
The authors add, ``Raccoon feces also can be found on woodpiles, decks, rooftops and in attics, garages and haylofts.'' They note that decks, patios, and other potentially contaminated surfaces can be treated with boiling water to reduce the risk of exposure and infection.
SOURCE: Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report 2002;50:1153-1155.
But seriously folks, those of you with kids whose environs raccoons love, be warned.
"Yikes! Caught again!"
Just when we all thought ingesting animal feces was chic.
Oh...well...Back to the drawing board. Now parents, repeat after me..."I will watch my child and not let my child eat animal waste"..."I will watch my........
Raccoon on top.
ROFLMAO!! Thanks!!!
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